The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is in the process of amending the rules pertaining to roll out obligations, say news reports.
If implemented, these guidelines will be applicable for operators bagging licences in the forthcoming spectrum auction.
DoT will present its proposal before an Empowered Group of Ministers on June 21, 2012.
Currently, operators are required to cover a minimum of 10 per cent of the district headquarters within the first year of their license term and 50 per cent over three years.
According to an internal note circulated by DoT, the amended guidelines will require operators to cover 20 per cent of block headquarters in their circles within the first two years of obtaining a licence.
Subsequently, another 10 per cent of block headquarters will have to be covered in the third year. This proposal is aimed at increasing rural penetration of telecom services.
