The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is an institution, specifically a department under the Ministry of Communications of the Government of India, responsible for the formulation, implementation, and regulation of national telecommunication policy. The DoT was formed in 1985 when telecommunications was separated from the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department, addressing the need for a dedicated body to accelerate the growth of telecommunication services, which were previously state-controlled. Initially, the DoT was the sole provider of services, a function that was later shifted to public sector undertakings like Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) after its formation in October 2000.
The DoT works by formulating developmental policies, granting licenses for various telecom services, and managing the allocation of radio frequency spectrum. It enforces wireless regulatory measures by monitoring wireless transmission across the country. The DoT oversees the functioning of related institutions, including the regulatory body Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the quasi-judicial body Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).
The regulatory framework has recently undergone a major change with the enactment of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (Act No. 44 of 2023), which received the President's assent on December 25, 2023. This new Act replaced the colonial-era Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, consolidating the laws to address modern challenges like the regulation of Over-The-Top (OTT) communication services and the assignment of spectrum. The DoT continues to be the primary administrative authority for policy and licensing under this modernized legal framework.