The Department of Telecommunications, (DoT) on August 28, 2024, notified the Draft Telecommunications (Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure) Rules, 2024.
The following has been stated-
•These rules shall apply to the telecommunication network, or any part thereof, which has been notified by the Central Government as Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (3) of section 22 of the Act, based on an assessment that disruption of such infrastructure will have a debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety of the nation.
•To enable notification of Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure, each telecommunication entity shall provide the details of its telecommunication network, telecommunication services, elements of such network and services, and other relevant information including software and hardware, upon request of the Central Government, in the form specified for this purpose.
•A telecommunication entity must ensure that all Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure, including spares, hardware, and software, complies with the Essential Requirements (ERs), Interface Requirements (IRs), Indian Telecommunication Security Assurance Requirements (ITSARs), and other relevant specifications, testing requirements, or conformity assessments issued by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre, National Centre for Communication Security, or any other authority as notified by the Central Government. Additionally, compliance with the National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector (NSDTS) and any directives on communication security certification issued by the Central Government is mandatory. The entity must also adhere to any standards on Critical Telecommunication Infrastructure that may be notified or prescribed by the Central Government from time to time.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 521(E)]
