COAI welcomed the Jharkhand Communication Towers and Related Structures Policy, 2015, that has paved the way for seamless mobile telephony and an efficient communications network in Jharkhand. Aimed at strengthening the communications and information infrastructure in the state, the new policy is indicative of the state government’s intent to achieve greater and inclusive connectivity in Jharkhand, especially in rural and remote areas.
One of the most forward looking tower policies in the country, the State’s policy makes provision for a Single-Window Clearance System to clear all new and pending applications for installing new mobile towers in the state. The Policy also allows for mobile towers to be set up in all types of residential, multi-storeyed, industrial and institutional buildings, and on open lands, a move that will give operators and mobile service providers the resources they need to ensure uninterrupted flow of mobile telephony services in the state. The Policy also specifies rational charges for setting up new mobile towers, including nominal registration charges such as INR 20,000 to the Municipal Corporation, INR 15,000 to Nagar Parishads and Nagar Panchayats, and INR 10,000 to Panchayat Samiti areas to install a mobile tower.
This move augurs well for the citizens of Jharkhand as the benefits of increasing teledensity on overall economic development has been well established. Citizens can now look forward to increasing opportunities arising from internet connectivity and online applications that help with education, health and government services.
Lauding the move, Mr. Rajan S Mathews, Director General, COAI, said, “We welcome the Jharkhand Towers and Related Structures Policy, 2015, which is a very positive development for the industry. Besides allowing towers to be set up on residential buildings and open lands, the Policy also has a provision for setting up towers atop government and semi-government buildings. This is in line with the views of the Hon’ble Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and will definitely put Jharkhand among the top most well connected states in the country. We urge other states governments to implement similar conducive mobile tower policies.”
The Jharkhand Tower Policy has come as a breath of fresh air for the industry, which has for long been affirming the need for a uniform tower policy in the country to enable the setting up of a robust communication network that will help operators to not only battle challenges like call drops, but also put in greater effort to taking the country closer to the Government’s ambitious plans of a Digital India.