In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
(a) "appointed day" means such date as the Central Government may, by notification appoint under sub-section (3) of section 1;
(b) "assignment" of a radio frequency or radio frequency channel means the permission for a radio station to use a radio frequency or radio frequency channel under specified conditions;
(c) "assignee" means a person holding an assignment of a radio frequency or radio frequency channel under section 4;
(d) "authorisation" means a permission, by whatever name called, granted under this Act for--
(i) providing telecommunication services;
(ii) establishing, operating, maintaining or expanding telecommunication networks; or
(iii) possessing radio equipment;
(e) "authorised entity" means a person holding an authorisation under section 3;
(f) "critical telecommunication infrastructure" means telecommunication networks notified under sub-section (3) of section 22;
(g) "message" means any sign, signal, writing, text, image, sound, video, data stream, intelligence or information sent through telecommunication;
(h) "National Frequency Allocation Plan" means guidelines issued from time to time by the Central Government for the use of the spectrum;
(i) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression "notified" shall be construed accordingly;
(j) "person" shall include an individual, any company or association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, by whatsoever name called or referred to;
(k) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(l) "radio equipment" means telecommunication equipment used or capable of use for telecommunication by means of Hertzian or radio waves;
(m) "radio waves" means electro-magnetic waves of frequencies propagated in space without any artificial guide;
(n) "Schedule" means a schedule to this Act;
(o) "spectrum" means the range of frequencies of Hertzian or radio waves;
(p) "telecommunication" means transmission, emission or reception of any messages, by wire, radio, optical or other electro-magnetic systems, whether or not such messages have been subjected to rearrangement, computation or other processes by any means in the course of their transmission, emission or reception;
(q) "telecommunication equipment" means any equipment, appliance, instrument, device, radio station, radio equipment, material, apparatus, or user equipment, that may be or is being used for telecommunication, including software and intelligence integral to such telecommunication equipment; and excludes such equipment as may be notified by the Central Government;
(r) "telecommunication identifier" means a series of digits, characters and symbols, or a combination thereof, used to identify uniquely a user, a telecommunication service, a telecommunication network, elements of a telecommunication network, telecommunication equipment, or an authorised entity;
(s) "telecommunication network" means a system or series of systems of telecommunication equipment or infrastructure, including terrestrial or satellite networks or submarine networks, or a combination of such networks, used or intended to be used for providing telecommunication services, but does not include such telecommunication equipment as notified by the Central Government;
(t) "telecommunication service" means any service for telecommunication;
(u) "user"means a natural or legal person using or requesting a telecommunication service, but does not include person providing such telecommunication service or telecommunication network.