Department of Telecommunications Drives India’s Digital Sovereignty: Year End Review 2025
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) | Ministry of Communications | TRAI
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) released its 2025 Year End Review, highlighting a transformative period focused on legislative modernization, global leadership in 6G, and enhanced consumer security. Following the complete operationalization of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the department has shifted from a licensing-based regime to an authorization-based framework, significantly reducing the compliance burden for service providers.
Key Strategic Milestones of 2025:
Global 6G Leadership: India secured a prominent seat in global standard-setting for 6G technology, with the “Bharat 6G Vision” now influencing International Telecommunication Union (ITU) frameworks.
1600-Series Mandate: To combat rising voice-based financial fraud, DoT and TRAI mandated the adoption of the 1600-numbering series for all BFSI sector entities, ensuring service and transactional calls are clearly identifiable to consumers.
Infrastructure Expansion: Over 4.5 lakh 5G base stations are now operational, covering nearly 98% of the population, while the BharatNet Phase III project reached its goal of connecting the remaining 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats with high-speed fiber.
Digital Consent Acquisition (DCA): Launched a pilot for a unified digital consent platform to curb Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC), giving users granular control over marketing calls.
Indigenous Tech Stack: Successful deployment of India’s first indigenous 4G/5G core by BSNL, marking a decisive step toward Atmanirbharta in critical telecom infrastructure.
What is the “Authorization-based Regime” under the Telecom Act 2023? It is a simplified regulatory framework that replaces the complex system of multiple licenses with a single, unified “authorization.” This move eliminates overlapping fees and legal ambiguities, facilitating faster deployment of new technologies like satellite broadband and private captive networks.
Policy Relevance
The 2025 review underscores the transition of Indian telecom from a mere service sector to a core pillar of National Security and Digital Sovereignty.
Cyber-Security Fortress: The mandatory 1600-series and AI-powered “Chakshu” portal for reporting fraud have together contributed to a 25% reduction in impersonation-based financial crimes this year.
Spectrum Management: The implementation of administrative spectrum allocation for Satellite Broadband (GSAT-20) ensures India remains a competitive player in the global space-based internet market.
Investor Confidence: Rationalized regulatory costs and the “Jan Vishwas” decriminalization of technical defaults have positioned India as the world’s most attractive destination for telecom manufacturing under the PLI 2.0 scheme.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the DoT ensure that the transition to the 1600-series for transactional calls remains free from “ID spoofing” by international fraudsters who operate outside the domestic telecom switch level?
Follow the full news here: Department of Telecommunications Year End Review 2025