Anshu Prakash, secretary (telecom), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, and chairman, Digital Communications Commission has urged all states and union territories (UTs) to speed up clearances to field staff of telcos, tower operators and internet service providers (ISPs) across India in order to ensure uninterrupted mobile and broadband connectivity to consumers amid Covid-19.
In his letter to all state chief secretaries, Prakash requested that all personnel engaged in providing and maintaining mobile, internet and telecom infrastructure services be issued the necessary permissions and passes, including for travel by local train/public transport, to enable all (consumers) to stay connected, even in the eventuality of lockdowns and restrictions on movement imposed by states and UTs. Further, he added that the DoT trusts that all states and UTs will extend assistance and facilitation to enable uninterrupted services/operations of telephone exchanges, mobile switching centers, network operation centers, data centers, call centres and warehouses where maintenance spares are stored.
“We have received references from the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and the Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA), requesting us to take up with states and UTs to recognise telecom as an essential service and provide the necessary assistance to enable uninterrupted services,” Prakash said in his letter.
