Mobile tower companies protest steep rise in installation fee in Delhi

Kolkata: Mobile users in Delhi could soon face big disruptions in coverage as processing of applications for setting up new towers has come to a grinding halt after telcos and tower companies strongly protested the massive rise in tower installation charges by local municipal bodies.

Tower installation rates, recently revised by two of the Delhi municipalities, have effectively jumped almost 150% to ₹5 lakh per tower for a five-year span. In addition, each application for setting up mobile towers in Delhi will also attract an extra one-time levy of ₹10,000 towards administrative expenses. Further, installation charges will rise by 25% if a tower is shared between multiple telcos.