Deploying backend tech for 5G faces roadblocks

There could be a delay in the rollout of 5G technology because of differences between most states and the Centre in policies for setting up critical telecom infrastructure, senior industry executives said.

One such issue is the fee levied by states on companies for installing mobile towers and laying fibre cables. Many states also charge annual and renewal charges on telecom infrastructure providers. For states, and especially for municipal corporations, these charges are an important source of revenue.

To ease the development of telecom infrastructure across the country, the Union government in 2016 came out with the Right of Way (RoW) policy. The RoW is a framework to set up telecom towers, lay fibre cables, settle disputes in a time-bound manner and to improve coordination among private firms, states and local bodies.