Implement active telecom infrastructure sharing: Taipa to DoT

Telecom infrastructure providers’ body Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) has urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to implement provisions of National Digital Communication Policy (NDCP), 2018 regarding sharing of active infrastructure by enhancement of scope of IP-I registration, especially as 5G rollout in India is around the corner.

“The telecom sector requires investments for the expeditious rollout of new technology. The sharing of active infrastructure by enhancement of scope of IP-I registration, without any licensing requirement, is one of the key policy provisions of NDCP 2018 which is awaiting implementation for more than 3 years now,” T.R. Dua, Director-General, Tower & Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) said in a letter to telecom secretary Anshu Prakash.

To be sure, clause 1.1.f of NDCP reads, “Encourage sharing of active infrastructure by enhancing the scope of Infrastructure Providers (IP-I) and promoting the deployment of common sharable, passive as well as active infrastructure.”

The apex industry body which represents companies like Indus Towers, ATC, Sterlite Technologies, among others argues that the deployment of common shareable passive, as well as active infrastructure, will lead to ready to utilise infrastructure, and it will also attract investments in the sector.

Additionally, telecom operators may benefit from reduced Capex and Opex requirements.

“We humbly submit that the above crucial decision would provide the much needed impetus to achieve the targets enshrined in NDCP 2018 besides achieving the goal of 1 trillion USD from digital services by 2025. Any further delay in the implementation would lead to corresponding delays in achieving the various objectives of NDCP 2018, besides causing impediments to the rollout of 5G technology as well,” Dua further said.

The government came out with the NDCP in October 2018 to extract a value of $1 trillion from digital services by 2025, while accelerating the Digital India footprint.

TAIPA also urged that TRAI’s recommendations dated March 2020 should be implemented at the earliest.

The recommendations in discussion allow active infrastructure sharing of Telecom Access networks within the scope of the IP-1 category of registration.