Lose licence if Jana Gana Mana used as ringback tune: DoT

The department of telecommunications (DoT) has pulled up mobile service providers for offering the National Anthem as a ringback tone.

In a notice to all telecom service providers, the department said this was a breach of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and executive instructions relating to the anthem.

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"Any violation of the same will be taken as violation of terms and conditions of licence agreement," the notice further said.

The ringback tone is the tune a calling person hears on the mobile phone of the receiving subscriber before the call is answered. Value added services, including ringback tones and caller tunes, contribute about 30 per cent of the revenues of telecom service providers. Mobile subscribers can opt for ringback or caller tunes from Bollywood songs, English songs or others through their service providers by paying a monthly fee of Rs 30-40.

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When asked, a leading mobile operator said the National Anthem was a very popular ringback tone. In many countries, mobile companies were allowed to offer their national anthem as a ringback tune, he said. However, he added, they’d follow the DoT guideline on this.