Implement Assam Telegraph Infrastructure Policy 2018: DIPA

Telecom infrastructure providers (IPs) have asked the Assam government to implement the Assam Telegraph Infrastructure Policy-2018 in “true letter and spirit”, and adopt a single-window clearance system for approving tower installation applications.

The companies have also urged the Assam government to streamline guidelines for the development of future street infrastructure to support small cells and aerial fibre cable (OFC), as well as for technologies like 5G.

“We would like to bring to your kind attention that the Information Technology department, govt. of Assam has already notified guidelines/instructions & permissive sanction for lying optical fibre and installing mobile towers on private and government land and buildings-2018 for alignment with the provisions contained in the Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016,” T R Dua, director-general of Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA), said in a letter dated February 3, to additional chief secretary of IT department, Syedain Abbasi.

Dua, in the letter, added that despite various industry submissions and meetings regarding the implementation of uniform Right of Way rules, the waiver of annual user charges for private land and buildings has not been done away with.

“Assam being a key state in the northeast region is being followed by other eastern region neighboring states and thus the industry concerns in Assam Telegraph Infrastructure Policy is being carried forward to other adjacent states,” he said.

Dua suggested departmental wide nodal officers should be appointed to address issues related to telecom rollout, besides, provisioning of “deemed approval” for applications that have been pending for over 60 days, and charging electricity tariff at industrial rates to telecom towers.

Furthermore, “Necessary directions to be issued to law enforcement agencies across all the districts to ensure the security of telecom towers and to take action against the miscreants who are involved in theft,” the letter said.

It added that the District Level Telecom Committee (DLTC) meetings should be held regularly to address pending tower no objection certificate (NoC), electricity connections, and other local-level operational issues. B2BChief