Mokokchung, 23 September (MTNews): In an effort to improve telecom connectivity in India’s northeastern states, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a set of recommendations to address the digital divide in the region. Despite several government initiatives aimed at enhancing telecom infrastructure, TRAI has noted that the northeastern states still face challenges in accessing high-speed mobile-based internet and fixed broadband connectivity, primarily due to issues related to inadequate transmission bandwidth (OFC/Microwave/Satellite).
TRAI observed that while rural wireless tele-density in Nagaland stands at 74.29%, surpassing the national average of 57.79%, urban tele-density in the state falls below the national average. This discrepancy may be attributed to the relatively small rural population and individuals resorting to SIM cards from multiple telecom service providers due to inadequate coverage.
TRAI emphasized in a release that the region’s digital divide is compounded by challenging terrain, power supply shortages, transmission media limitations, poor return on investment prospects for telecom service providers, and Right of Way (RoW) issues.
Recognizing the need to bridge this digital gap, TRAI has made the following recommendations: harmonizing state RoW policies with ‘The Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016’ and its amendments. It also recommended implementing exemption of RoW charges in rural, tribal, and hilly regions for five years.
“Implement waiver of the additional 25% ‘Tribal Development Charges’ being imposed upon TSPs (telecom service providers) wherever applicable in the NE states including Sikkim… facilitate creation of enabling provisions in their policy to expedite accord of environmental clearance to TSPs for installing mobile towers and DG sets for tower locations,” TRAI said.
It also recommended the State government to provide electricity to telecom sites as a priority (within 15 days of connection request) at utility/industrial tariff. Another recommendation is to do with waiving or subsidizing last mile installation charges for extending electricity connection to telecom sites in remote and hilly areas.
“Respective State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) to spell out utility tariffs which should be lower than the Industrial tariff. Telecom Service/Infrastructure Providers should be subjected to such utility tariffs only,” it said.
TRAI recommended that Centre should provide budgetary assistance in the form of grants to the states (including those in NER) only for the purpose of assisting certain village level government institutions in obtaining a BharatNet connection, procuring digital communication devices, and covering the monthly usage charges for connectivity.
“The grant should be divided in the proportion of 25:75 wherein the 25% of the grant should be used by these institutions for procuring terminal end digital communication devices and 75% the grant should be utilized for paying the cost of connectivity and monthly usage charges thereof to BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd),” it said.