Lok Sabha Question No. 682 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Initiatives for Securing Telecom Networks
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Biplab Kumar Deb

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 682 ANSWERED ON 23 RD  JULY, 2025

## INITIATIVES FOR SECURING TELECOM NETWORKS

## 682. SHRI BIPLAB KUMAR DEB:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any steps have been taken or proposed to be taken by the Government for enhancing fiber-to-the-home  connections, securing telecom  networks  against  threats, preventing  fraud, establishing telecom manufacturing, developing data centres and green energy initiatives; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

- (a) to (b) Government has taken following steps:
- i. For improving the number of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections: Vide Unified License amendment date 25.10.2021 issued by Department of Telecommunications (DoT), revenue from  'activities  under  a  license/  permission  issued  by  Ministry  of  Information  and Broadcasting (including cable TV services)' has been allowed to be deducted to arrive at Applicable Gross Revenue (ApGR) for internet services cum cable TV operators.
- ii. For  securing  telecom  networks  against  threats:  Telecom  Cyber  Security  Rules,  2024  and Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure Rules, 2024 have been notified under Section 22 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 by DoT. Framework for the Telecommunication Cyber Security Incident Response Team (TCSIRT), a sectoral CERT has been issued on 03.08.2022. All service providers are mandated to audit their network or get the network audited from a security point of view through an agency accredited under international standards. Further, DoT has set up a Telecom Security Operation Centre (TSOC), for detecting potential cyberthreats to telecom network of the country and providing alerts to stakeholders for necessary actions.
- iii. For preventing frauds: DoT has undertaken Sanchar Saathi initiative for citizens to report suspected fraud communication. DoT has also developed an online secure Digital Intelligence Platform  for  sharing  of  information  related  to  misuse  of  telecom  resources  among  the stakeholders for prevention of cyber-crime and financial frauds.
- iv. No telecom manufacturing zones has been established by DoT.
- v. For development of Data Centres in the country: Data Centres with a minimum capacity of five (5) MW of IT load are included in the Harmonized Master List (HML) of Infrastructure Sub-sectors, under the Communications category as published by Department of Economic Affairs.

- vi. For  Green  energy  initiatives:  A  growing  number  of  telecom  towers  are  being  powered through renewable energy sources (mainly solar) especially in remote and difficult areas. Further,  in  alignment  with  the  PM  Suryaghar  Yojana,  DoT  is  actively  facilitating  the installation of rooftop solar panels  on  government  buildings and  offices under its administrative control.

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