The ever-rising demand for high-speed and reliable connectivity, fuelled by the proliferation of smartphones, connected devices and data-intensive applications, has significantly increased the need for ubiquitous network access across the country. As more enterprises embark on digitalising their operations, demand for seamless connectivity is poised to grow even further. To address this escalating demand for network connectivity, the country’s telecom infrastructure needs considerable upgrades. However, scaling up the communications infrastructure involves major challenges, including obtaining right-of-way (RoW) permissions from various authorities and prohibitively high installation costs. In this context, small cells and aerial fibre have emerged as promising alternatives for expanding the infrastructure backbone in areas where adding more towers and base stations may be geographically impossible or economically unfeasible.
Small cells provide localised coverage up to a few 100 metres and are ideal for providing connectivity in high-density areas such as city centres and transport hubs. They offer stronger cellular coverage, low latency and lower deployment costs compared to traditional macro cells. Their small form factor allows them to be mounted on existing public infrastructure, thereby reducing the need for installing new towers. Meanwhile, aerial fibre offers several advantages over underground fibre. First, it eliminates the need for digging or creating new ducts, as required with underground cables. Further, it allows reuse of existing poles to lay fibre cables, thereby reducing installation costs. Aerial fibre is, thus, easier to manage and deploy, making it an increasingly viable alternative to underground fibre. Given its role in providing high-speed broadband connectivity, the use of aerial fibre is expected to rise considerably in the coming years.
A key advantage of small cells and aerial fibre is their ability to be easily deployed on street furniture such as utility poles, billboards, lamp posts, traffic signals and bus stops, with minimal or no modifications. This approach eliminates the need for new towers or poles, significantly reducing capital expenditure and deployment time. However, several issues must be addressed to optimally leverage street resources for this purpose. These include obtaining the necessary permissions from multiple authorities, ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure, addressing aesthetic and public safety concerns and managing potential interference with other utilities. Addressing these challenges is crucial for the effective deployment and utilisation of small cells and aerial fibre on street furniture.
An overview of the benefits of using street furniture for small cell and aerial fibre deployment, the policy push, key challenges and future outlook…
Key benefits
Deploying small cells and aerial fibre on street furniture offers several significant advantages. First and foremost, it is cost-efficient as it leverages the existing infrastructure, thereby reducing the need for new constructions and lowering overall expenses. This also enables faster roll-outs of network services as infrastructure installations can be completed quickly and with minimal disruption to urban activities. Moreover, the widespread availability of such infrastructure, managed by various public and private authorities, can significantly aid the economical and rapid deployment of small cells, crucial for the densification required by 5G networks. Deploying small cells on public assets also ensures strong signal strength and low latency, enhancing connectivity for urban dwellers. Additionally, this strategy helps create a mutually beneficial relationship between authorities and telecom providers, where 5G infrastructure owned by authorities can be utilised for various smart city applications, such as waste disposal and energy management. Furthermore, the deployment of aerial fibre on street furniture addresses the need for high-speed backhaul connectivity, crucial for supporting advanced smart city solutions and 5G networks. Finally, the use of street furniture such as utility poles, lamp posts and bus stops for telecom infrastructure deployment helps maintain urban aesthetics by avoiding the visual clutter associated with traditional cell towers.
Policy push
The government and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have initiated several measures to promote the use of street furniture for small cell and aerial fibre deployment. With a view to creating a regulatory framework that facilitates collaboration and participation among various departments, central and state agencies, local bodies and service providers. TRAI released its recommendations on the use of street furniture for small cells and aerial fibre deployment in November 2022. The regulator’s recommendations included amending RoW Rules to clarify the term “street furniture”, expanding the national portal for RoW permissions to include all utility providers and creating a GIS-mapped catalogue of street furniture assets with drone-based mapping. The recommendations emphasised coordination among service providers when multiple requests are made for the same street furniture and enhanced security monitoring of telecom assets. They also advocated sharing of street infrastructure by central and state government entities, prohibiting exclusive contracts to ensure non-discriminatory use of street furniture and establishing a “National Fibre Authority” to oversee above-ground telecom infrastructure.
Following the regulator’s recommendations, the union cabinet has simplified the clearance process for installing low-power base transceiver stations (BTSs) such as small cells on existing structures, eliminating the need for formal processing for these installations. Further, the government has amended the Indian Telegraph RoW Rules, 2016, to include provisions for installing telecom equipment on poles and street furniture. Additionally, several state governments have started mapping the use of street furniture to facilitate the deployment of small cells and aerial fibre. Both the central and state governments are leveraging the GatiShakti National Master Plan to identify suitable street furniture for the installation of small cells.
Issues and challenges
While the use of street furniture for the deployment of small cells and aerial fibre presents numerous advantages, it also entails several key challenges that must be addressed to ensure successful implementation. A significant hurdle arises from public concerns regarding the potential radiation emitted by telecom equipment. Despite numerous efforts by TRAI and the government to alleviate these concerns, they still persist as prominent issues within local urban dwellings. Further, securing regulatory clearances and adhering to radio frequency standards pose substantial obstacles for telecom operators and infrastructure providers, often resulting in project delays and escalated expenses
Additionally, securing suitable sites with adequate power and backhaul connectivity remains a major challenge, particularly in densely populated urban areas, where space is limited and the existing infrastructure may not meet the technical requirements for small cell deployment. Further, the structural integrity of street furniture must be carefully evaluated to ensure that it can support the additional weight and equipment associated with small cell and aerial fibre deployment. Heat dissipation criteria, battery back-up considerations and wind resistance capacity are among the technical challenges that must be addressed to ensure the safety and reliability of the infrastructure. Finally, administrative complexity, including coordination among multiple stakeholders and agencies responsible for managing street furniture, adds another layer of difficulty to the deployment process.
Outlook
The utilisation of street furniture for small cell and aerial fibre deployment has emerged as a transformative strategy to enhance the availability of telecom infrastructure, particularly in urban areas. Street furniture provides a readily available and strategically placed foundation for mounting small cells and laying aerial fibre, making it an ideal solution for expanding telecom connectivity. This approach also supports the development of smart city solutions by integrating telecommunications infrastructure with urban utility services, creating a more connected and efficient urban environment.
As the demand for high-speed services continues to grow due to the proliferation of next-generation technologies and bandwidth-intensive applications, the integration of street furniture for small cell and aerial fibre deployment is poised to play a crucial role in boosting network coverage. Moreover, advancements in technology will enable even more efficient use of street furniture. For instance, smart lamp posts equipped with sensors and connectivity modules could serve multiple purposes such as lighting, surveillance, environmental monitoring and public Wi-Fi.
However, to unlock the full potential of street furniture for small cell and aerial fibre deployment, several issues need to be addressed. Extensive community engagement, including public forums and informational sessions, is needed to educate residents on the safety standards and benefits of using urban infrastructure for telecom infrastructure deployment. To enhance the resilience of street infrastructure to weather-related factors, weather-resistant enclosures should be designed for small cells and corrosion-resistant coatings should be applied to fibre cables. Additionally, streamlined approval processes and regulatory support are essential for the effective utilisation of street furniture in enhancing network access.
In sum, effective collaboration and communication among telecom operators, regulatory authorities, local governments and infrastructure owners are essential to create a conducive environment for the seamless integration of telecom infrastructure into urban landscapes, facilitating the deployment of advanced technologies and enhancing network connectivity.
