DoT mandates telecom data storage within India under new rules

The government has mandated that all telecommunication network data, logs and related information be stored exclusively in India under a new authorisation framework. The rules also strengthen compliance monitoring while introducing provisions for cloud-hosted telecom networks and other infrastructure providers

New Delhi: The government has barred communication infrastructure providers, including those involved in cloud-based networks for telecom services, mobile towers and satellite gateways, from sharing any data outside the country, according to an official notification.

The Department of Telecom, in a notification on the authorisation framework for infrastructure providers, has made it mandatory that all telecommunication data be stored within the country.

“Every new authorised entity shall ensure that all systems of its telecommunication network and the data, logs and information associated with its telecommunication network shall be stored within India and no copies of such data, logs and information shall be routed, shared or made available outside India,” the notification, dated July 20, said.

Authorisation frameworks are part of the government’s strategy to shift from a licensing regime to light regulation, as envisaged under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

Infrastructure providers, digital connectivity infrastructure providers, internet exchange point providers, satellite earth station gateway providers, cloud-hosted telecommunication network providers and mobile number portability providers at the national level can seek authorisation under the notified framework.

Under the new norms, the Centre, for the purpose of monitoring compliance with the rules, may access and inspect the sites where telecommunication equipment and networks are established, “including within a user’s premises”, audit processes or systems established by such authorised entities for compliance with these rules, and may even issue no prior notice if the government considers that immediate action is necessary or expedient in the public interest.

For monitoring compliance, the Centre may appoint a designated agency to audit the processes or systems established by the authorised entity.

The notification said that the designated agency will neither collect nor require the disclosure of any information if such disclosure may harm the competitive position of any user or the authorised entity.

Infrastructure providers under the new framework will be solely responsible for obtaining permission to roll out the network, and any delay in obtaining such permission will not be a valid reason for non-compliance with any rules under the new framework.

“The non-availability of right of way or delays in obtaining right of way permission by the authorised entity shall not be a cause or ground for non-compliance with any obligations under these rules,” the framework said.

Data centre company Submer India Head Anupam Shrivastava, who has served as BSNL chairman and managing director, said the newly issued Telecommunications (Authorisation for Telecommunication Network) Rules, 2026, mark a transformative milestone for the country’s digital infrastructure.

“As someone who has led traditional telecom infrastructure at BSNL and is now pioneering sustainable data centre solutions at Submer, I see this framework as a bold step towards a greener, highly secure, and cloud-integrated future,” he said.

Shrivastava said the government has taken an uncompromising stance on data localisation, strictly mandating that all telecommunication network systems, associated data, and logs must be stored exclusively within India, and that no copies can be routed, shared, or made available outside the country.

“This will undoubtedly trigger a massive surge in domestic data centre demand. The introduction of the ‘Cloud-Hosted Telecommunication Network Provider’ category, featuring a low barrier to entry with a Rs 10 lakh entry fee and zero annual authorisation fees, will seamlessly integrate cloud data centres with telecom networks to democratise infrastructure,” he said.

ITU-APT Foundation of India President Bharat Bhatia complimented the DoT on issuing the detailed authorisation guidelines but said the key issue of spectrum assignment for gateway earth stations was still unresolved.

“The current notification does not allow the authorised entities to apply for spectrum, which is key to the successful operation of the gateways. Currently, the gateways are run by ISRO, which is allotted the necessary gateway spectrum, but private players will be at a disadvantage. TRAI is presently holding consultations on this and will hopefully address the issue in its next recommendation,” he said.