The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has revised the definition of ‘mobile tower’ in its newly released right of way (RoW) rules. According to the DoT, a ‘mobile tower’ is now defined as any above-ground structure, including those that can be dismantled and reassembled elsewhere, used for supporting a telecommunication network, excluding poles.
Under the new guidelines, no permission is required from property owners to establish mobile towers or poles on private properties. If an infrastructure company cannot reach an agreement with a property owner, it may apply to the district collector or designated officer through an online portal to assess whether the installation is necessary for public interest.
These regulations will apply to all infrastructure projects notified by the central government starting January 1, 2025. The government has also established strict timelines for granting permissions, capping charges for deploying infrastructure, and implementing other provisions. For instance, local municipalities must grant RoW permissions within 67 days and if they fail to respond within this period, permissions will be automatically granted to reduce bureaucratic delays.
Additionally, for small cell installations, annual charges will be set at Rs 300 in urban areas and Rs 250 in rural areas per street furniture. All applications and communications will be processed through a digital portal to enhance transparency and efficiency.
