Lok Sabha Question No. 2917 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Speedy 5G Roll-Out
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Ravindra Kushawaha, Ravi Kishan Shukla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2917 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## SPEEDY 5G ROLL-OUT

## 2917.   SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA: SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the changes made through legislation/subordinate legislation since 2014 for enabling speedy 5G roll-out in the country;
- (b) the details of procedural reforms on Wireless Licensing introduced in the Sector; and
- (c) the details of Satellite reforms introduced in the Sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

- (a) India has seen one of the world's fastest roll-out of 5G services with more than 4 Lakh base stations installed within 14 months. This has been achieved through following policy measures:
- (i) Series of financial reforms resulting in rationalization of Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR).
- (ii) Assignment  of  sufficient  spectrum  for  mobile  services  through  open  &  transparent auction.
- (iii) Sharing, trading, leasing and surrender of spectrum has been permitted to promote its efficient use.
- (iv) Simplification  of  Procedure  for  SACFA  (Standing  Advisory  Committee  on  Radio Frequency  Allocations)  clearance.  After  implementation  of  this  simplified  procedure, average processing time for SACFA Clearance has significantly reduced to 5 days.
- (v) Right of Way (RoW) Rules, 2016 have been notified under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. Pursuant to this, all States/ UTs have notified their RoW policies. This has resulted in streamlining of RoW permissions and expeditious clearances for installation of telecom infrastructure.
- (vi) Procedure for application and time-bound permission for usage of street furniture for installation of small cells and telegraph line has been specified in Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2022.
- (vii) PM GatiShakti Sanchar portal has been launched to expedite RoW permissions.

(b) In addition to the above measures, following steps have been taken to reform the wireless processes:

- (i) Harmonisation of spectrum from time to time to promote its efficient utilisation.

- (ii) Carrying out spectrum audit and periodic monitoring to assess the utilisation of spectrum and resolution of interference in various frequency bands.
- (iii) Re-farming of spectrum lying unused with existing wireless users is also carried out from time to time to improve spectrum utilisation and efficiency.
- (iv) Spectrum assignment process made online based on single scrutiny workflow.
- (v) Leasing  of  spectrum  to  Captive  Non-Public  Network  (CNPN)  licensees  has  been permitted.
- (vi) Process for import of telecom equipment has been simplified.

(c) The  Government  has  taken  multiple  initiatives  to  promote  orderly growth  of  satellite communications sector. Salient points of reforms carried out in this direction are as follows:

- (i) Per  transponder  NOCC  (Network  Operations  Control  Center)  charges  for  Service Providers have been abolished.
- (ii) For establishing user-side VSATs (Very Small Aperture Terminal), the requirement of WOL (Wireless Operating License) has been abolished.
- (iii) Facility of self-certification for antennas and online generation of automatic up-linking permission has been provided, instead of physical testing of satellite antennas.
- (iv) Guidelines for establishing satellite-based communication network have been issued.
- (v) 25% additional  Royalty  Charges  for  the  remote  VSAT  terminals  has  been  abolished  to facilitate the Captive VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) network users.
- (vi) Charging for INMARSAT (International Maritime Satellite) based Satellite phones being provided by BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) has been made on AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue) basis.
- (vii) To promote Ease of doing business and Digital India, the endorsement of TV (Television) Channels under Teleport Licenses has been permitted on self-declaration basis.
- (viii) The restrictions on the number of TV Channels within minimum prescribed bandwidth used per TV Channel, has been done away with.
- (ix) Requirement to submit periodic deployment data for VSAT CUG (Closed User Group) Operators has been done away with.

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