Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA)

The Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) is the converged regulatory body responsible for the regulation of information and communications technology (ICT), telecommunications, media, and the film sector in the Kingdom of Bhutan. As an autonomous statutory authority, BICMA enforces the provisions of the Information, Communication and Media (ICM) Act of Bhutan 2018, which replaced the earlier Bhutan Information, Communications and Media (BICM) Act of 2006. The authority's mandate encompasses licensing of telecom operators and broadcasters, spectrum management, content regulation, tariff determination, and the promotion of universal access to ICT services across the country.^[1]

BICMA's creation reflected the recognition by the Royal Government that the rapid expansion of telecommunications, the internet, and broadcast media in Bhutan—a country that did not introduce television until 1999—required a dedicated, independent regulatory framework separate from the policy-making functions of the Ministry of Information and Communications. The authority plays a critical role in balancing the expansion of media freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan (2008) with the government's concerns about cultural preservation, national security, and responsible media practice.^[2]

Historical Background

Bhutan's regulatory framework for information and media has evolved rapidly over the past two decades. Prior to 2006, media regulation was handled directly by the Ministry for Information and Communications. The Bhutan Information, Communications and Media Act of 2006 created BICMA as an independent body with statutory authority to license and regulate the sector. The 2006 Act provided for considerable regulatory discretion, including powers to take over communications services and facilities in the interest of "peace, stability and well-being," intercept communications under defined circumstances, issue permits for publishing, film screening, and dramatic performances, and block access to websites deemed contrary to the national interest.^[3]

The 2006 Act facilitated important milestones, including the establishment of Bhutan's first independent radio stations, the licensing of private newspapers alongside the state-owned Kuensel, and the expansion of mobile telephony. However, critics, including Freedom House, noted that the Act did not provide specific protections for journalists or guarantee freedom of information. The subsequent Information, Communication and Media Act of 2018 sought to modernise the regulatory framework, incorporating lessons from a decade of implementation and adapting to the convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting, and internet services.^[4]

The ICM Act of 2018

The ICM Act of 2018 replaced the 2006 legislation and reconstituted BICMA's mandate to reflect the convergence of digital and traditional media. The Act provides for a unified licensing regime covering telecommunications, internet service provision, broadcasting, print media, and over-the-top (OTT) media platforms. Key provisions include the regulation of interconnection and infrastructure sharing between ICT licensees, planning and administration of numbering for ICT services, development of technical standards, determination of tariffs and spectrum usage fees, and maintenance of competition in the sector.^[5]

Under the 2018 Act, BICMA's organisational structure comprises several functional divisions. The InfoComm and Infrastructure Division handles licensing of telecommunications and ICT services, while the Media and Content Division oversees broadcasting, print media, film, and digital content regulation. The authority issues various categories of licences, including those for mobile network operators, internet service providers, FM radio stations, television channels, and printing presses.^[6]

Current Regulatory Landscape

Bhutan's telecommunications sector is served primarily by two mobile operators—Bhutan Telecom (the state-owned incumbent) and TashiCell (a private operator)—both licensed and regulated by BICMA. Internet penetration has grown rapidly, driven by mobile broadband, and the authority has been instrumental in extending connectivity to rural and remote areas in line with the government's digital inclusion objectives. BICMA also regulates the country's growing media landscape, which includes several private newspapers, radio stations, and the state broadcaster Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS).^[7]

The regulation of online content and OTT platforms represents a growing challenge. As Bhutanese citizens, particularly youth, increasingly consume content through global digital platforms, BICMA has sought to develop regulatory responses that address concerns about misinformation, harmful content, and cultural impact while respecting constitutional protections for freedom of expression. The authority's approach reflects the broader tension in Bhutanese governance between openness to the modern world and the preservation of traditional cultural values, a tension that runs through many aspects of the kingdom's development philosophy under Gross National Happiness.^[1]

References

1. BICMA — Background. Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority.
2. "Censorship in Bhutan." Wikipedia.
3. Bhutan Information Communications and Media Act 2006. Office of the Attorney General.
4. "Mass Media in Bhutan." Wikipedia.
5. ICM Act of Bhutan 2018. BICMA.
6. Media and Content Division. BICMA.
7. Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority — Official Website.