5G services to cover most parts of India in 2-3 years: Ashwini Vaishnaw

According to a report by PTI (via ET Telecom), the minister mentioned that the government is planning and working efficiently towards the launch of 5G services PAN India and aims to roll out the services by October this year. Post the launch, telecom companies that are currently working on building the infrastructure will aim toward scaling up the services in both rural and urban areas.

Vaishnaw said the government is expecting huge investments around 2.5 to 3 lakh crore in the telecom industry and that it will also lead to the generation of more employment in the sector.

What are Indian Telegraph Row Amendment Rules, 2022?

The government of India has recently amended the RoW 2016 rules and incorporated the Indian Telegraph Right of Way -Amendment Rules 2022 which will help facilitate the launch, establishment, and growth of 5G services and their infrastructure in the nation.

Vaishnaw mentioned the speedy approvals of RoW as a result of the initiatives taken by the prime minister. He stated how 343 days which were taken earlier for the RoW approvals have now been reduced to mere 22 days. And that on average it only took 16 days last July.

The new rules shed light on the fact that the telecom companies like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea (Vi), and others within India will now no longer require any permission from the concerned authorities for the laying of cables or installation of mobile towers or establishment of infrastructure over private properties across the states.

Further, the rules specify the exact charges that will be imposed for laying the telecom cables, usage of street furniture like electricity poles or utility poles, traffic lights, etc, for installation of small cells and telegraph lines. Telecom companies will have to pay Rs 300 per annum in urban areas for using street furniture for the installation of small cells and Rs 150 per annum in rural areas per street furniture. Similarly for the installation of cables using the street furniture, the company will have to pay Rs 100 per annum per street furniture.

Lastly, laying the final words as the cherry on top, Vaishnaw said that the initiatives and reforms taken by the government with respect to the spectrum and the newly reduced cost price of RoW have eventually reduced the cost of the industry. And that the government has received information that according to the ITU Ranking, India has the most affordable services so far. The same vogue will be continued and maintained in the high-speed 5G services.