Telecom tower firms seek power tariff review

NEW DELHI: Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) sought intervention from the Ministry of Power to consider electricity tariffs under industrial category instead of commercial category for infrastructure providers.

The nation is on the cusp of 5G deployment with the spectrum auctions scheduled later this month. The availability of 5G networks would necessarily require network densification in the form of several low distance small cells rather than grand tower/masts, Delhi-based group told power secretary Alok Kumar.

Further, the infrastructure body said that tower companies spend nearly 30% of the operatiing expenditure (opex) in paying power tariffs.