Lok Sabha Question No. 5117 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Telecom Network
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: K. GOPAL

5117. DR. K. GOPAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to lay down uniform rules for rolling out telecom network across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  proposed  policy  aims  to  facilitate expeditious  roll out  of  telecom infrastructure so as to help improve quality of service, reduce call drops as well as cost of setting up networks; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) to (d) The rules notified by the Central Government in respect of telecom sector as well  as  regulations/  orders  issued  by  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  in exercise  of  powers  conferred  under  the  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  Act,1997, including those for rolling out telecom network, are uniformly applicable across the country.

In  order  to  facilitate  expeditious  roll  out  of  telecom  infrastructure  so  as  to  improve quality  of  service,  reduce  call  drops  as  well  as  reducing  cost  of  setting  up  networks,  the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued Guidelines for issue of clearances for installation of Mobile Towers. These guidelines had also been forwarded to Chief Secretaries of  all  the  State  Governments  for  uniform  implementation.  In  addition,  the  matter  had  also been  taken  up  with  all  the  State  Governments  citing  'Digital  India'  and  'm-Governance' programs for providing:

- (i) single window clearances for setting up telecom infrastructure;
- (ii) space in government buildings for mobile telephone sites;
- (iii) speedy Right of Way (RoW) clearances.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5117 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH   APRIL, 2017

## TELECOM NETWORK

Further, in addition to initiating a nation-wide awareness programme on 'EMF (Electro Magnetic  Field)  Emissions  &  Telecom  Towers'  to  build  a  direct  bridge  of  engagement between different stakeholders and to fill the information gap with scientific evidence, DoT has taken many policy initiatives to improve mobile services, which, inter-alia , include :

- (i) permitting Spectrum Sharing & Trading;
- (ii) liberlisation of administratively allocated spectrum;
- (iii) permitting active infrastructure sharing; etc.

In order to address the issue of call drops and quality of service, the Government has also  taken  initiatives  in  respect  of  facilitating  roll  out  of  telecom  infrastructure  by  allowing Central  Government  Buildings/  Estate,  NDMC  (New  Delhi  Municipal  Council)  Buildings/ Estate  in  Lutyens  Zone,  Delhi,  as  well  as  allowing  Defence  Estate  and  Postal  Buildings across the country for installation of mobile towers/ Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs).

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