India has made changes to Right of Way (RoW) guidelines in order to assist telecom operators to speed up roll out of 5G network.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced 5G RoW Application Form on the GatiShakti Sanchar Portal.

The portal provides a collaborative mechanism between all stakeholders including Central and State/UT Government(s), central land-owning authorities (Railways & Defence), Local bodies, and Service Providers to ease the Right of Way (RoW) applications and permissions for the deployment of the Digital Infrastructure- mobile towers and OFC in the country.

The existing Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016 had certain challenges resulting lack of access to adequate street furniture for deployment, and restrictions on the installation of towers/small cells near educational institutes, hospitals, airports, defence establishments, religious places, etc.

The Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2022 will help the industry in faster proliferation of digital infrastructure, deployment of small cells, aerial fiber, and street furniture. There is a provision for small cells, electric poles, access to street furniture, etc. introduced for the easy and smooth deployment of 5G networks.

The amendments in charges introduced i.e. INR 1000 per KM for Aerial OFC, Rs 300 per annum for urban area and Rs 150 per annum for rural areas per street furniture and INR 1000 per pole for the setting up poles, for installing the small cells will be a big relief for telecom operators.

“As the country is set to witness the 5G technology, The Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2022 will ensure the speedy roll-out of the technology and make the dream of 5G enabled India comes true,” SP Kochhar, Director General, COAI, said.

India requires the densification of mobile networks for the enhancement of digital services and the roll-out of 5G services in India. The amendment in the RoW rules will help incorporate provisions on small cell deployment, and ensure uniform implementation of RoW rules across states, union territories, and municipal bodies. This will further reduce approval timelines for small cells to 15-30 days, and no SACFA approvals would be required for small cells.