
Telcos warn of network rollout delays as states lag on infra rules
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Users could face service quality issues as telecom operators struggle to expand networks, with about 15 states yet to align with the Centre’s updated Right of Way (RoW) rules to deploy telecom infrastructure, three executives aware of the matter said.
The department of telecommunications (DoT) notified the RoW rules in September last year and mandated states to implement them starting January, 2025. The rules govern how telecom infrastructure, which includes mobile towers, poles, common ducts, small cells and street furniture, can be installed over public and private property.
Also Read | The ambitious and ambiguous rise of Huawei as a telecom giant The delays are primarily due to the reluctance and complex processes of some state governments over the implementation of uniform RoW regulations. The lack of a standardized approach across states is causing significant hurdles in the timely installation of telecom infrastructure, such as towers and fiber optic cables, according to telecom operators.
“As a result, telecom companies are increasingly concerned about potential delays in the rollout of 4G, 5G services, and fiber-based broadband, which could impact both consumers and the broader digital ecosystem amid increase in data consumption," an executive at a telecom operator said. Also Read | Telecom Q3 review: Airtel triumphs in Arpu battle, but Jio could win the war States and union territories that are yet to implement RoW rules include Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Mizoram, Nagaland, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry, Tripura, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, and Andaman and Nicobar, according to data shared by telecom operators and infrastructure providers
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