Govt permits sharing of active telecom infra

DoT move to lower costs for telecom operators and lead to faster rollout of networks

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The department of telecommunications (DoT) has decided to allow sharing of active telecom infrastructure, such as antennae, feeder cables, and transmission systems. This is expected to lower costs for operators and lead to faster rollout of networks.

DoT has changed its Unified Licence terms to allow such sharing, "limited to antenna, feeder cable, Node B, radio access network (RAN) and transmission system only", it said on Monday. This takes effect right away.

Last year, it allowed sharing of spectrum, a critical resource for expansion of telecom networks. This would help operators enhance their network coverage area and fill the gaps, enabling them to improve quality of service.

Earlier, operators were allowed to share only passive infrastructure such as towers, repeaters, and shelters.

Experts say infrastructure costs for telcos could reduce 20-30 per cent after this move. It could also pave the way for Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) services. Such an operator does not own infrastructure or spectrum but takes it on lease. The government is yet to issue final guidelines on MVNOs, pending for many years.