Slow RoW permissions from discoms dragging 5G rollout: telecom infra firms

The Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) has also flagged only three major states aligning state policies with central right-of-way guidelines

The slow pace of permissions and lack of bulk right-of-way (RoW) clearances by state-owned power distribution companies (discoms) is slowing the deployment of 5G infrastructure, the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) has said.

DIPA, which represents telecom infrastructure providers such as tower companies and equipment makers, on Monday said state discoms aren't quickly disbursing RoW permissions. Discoms--utilities that typically buy power from generators and retail these to consumers--have become a key part of the 5G rollout after a government push to allow 5G radios to be increasingly installed on 'street furniture' such as electric poles, bus stops and traffic lights.

The government's RoW policy regulates the provisioning of underground (optical fibre) and overground (mobile towers) infrastructure for setting up of mobile communication systems. The Indian Telegraph Rules, 2016 were released more than six years ago, but needed major changes to cope with the demand of the 5G rollout.

The Centre had amended the Rules in 2022, simplifying procedures for small cell installations, allowing telecom licensees to use existing street fixtures at nominal costs and doing away with the need to for permissions to install telecom infrastructure on private property.

However, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had recommended amending the rules further to bring clarity on the term 'street furniture' and also to include provision of bulk processing of applications. DIPA has now alleged discoms are not providing the facility of bulk RoW permissions. As a result, permissions for installation of thousands of 5G small cells are pending, it has said.

Rolling out high-frequency spectrum bands such as 5G in urban areas faces challenges as compared to 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. The higher the frequency band, the lower the distance to which it can propagate, as signals in these bands cannot travel through buildings or obstacles.

Therefore, the macro cells for 5G networks need to be complemented with extensive deployment of small cells so as to support all kinds of uses and applications across locations. As a result, cells need to be installed as close as 100 metres from each other, down from three km earlier.

DIPA has also pointed out that only three major states - Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Assam - have aligned their state policy with Indian Telegraph Right of Way Amendment Rules, 2022.

Slow fibre rollout

“To meet the growing demand of large bandwidth, throughput, and ultra-low latency, 65 per cent of the telecom towers need to be fiberised and 1.2 million telecom towers need to be deployed by FY24. As on date, only 36 per cent of the telecom towers are fiberised,"  DIPA Director-General T R Dua, said. The industry body also represents EV charging infrastructure and fibre deployers.

The lack of fibre backhaul at telecom towers has been a nagging issue for the sector. The two telecom service providers (TSPs) currently rolling out 5G in India - Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel - have said network speeds and capacity would increase once optical fibres come into play.

The traffic expected to be generated (i.e., data consumed by the people) after most 5G networks reach optimal capacity is much higher than earlier. Copper wires can’t carry that much data except over short distances, and the only solution is to use optical fibre. Fiberisation is key to supporting efficient network operations and quality service delivery.

According to DIPA, about 750,000 telecom towers have been deployed all across India.

States which have aligned with Central RoW policy

Major states

Maharashtra

Rajasthan

Assam

Minor states & UTs

Chandigarh

Uttarakhand

Tripura

Manipur

Sikkim

Ladakh

5G rollout numbers

410: Districts connected with 5G

10,000: Govt mandated per week target for 5G radio installations to telcos

102,000: Total number of 5G radios put up in all states/UTs

750,000: Total telecom towers in India