Page 139 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

come just from big industry. Startups and participants discussed how connectivity Martin, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication
entrepreneurs make vital contributions in and technological innovations are enabling Development Bureau and Executive
this area, and we should continue to work swift adaptation to hybrid education; Director of the Commission, “we need the
toward ensuring greater participation from empowering learners through open right regulatory environment and the right
small business throughout ITU’s work.” education resources and data; building strategies and policies.” Commissioners
A forum for multistakeholder engagement capacities of civil servants for effective leading working groups on Smartphone
More than 40 Commissioners and digital transformation; and providing Access and AI Capacity Building presented
representatives attended the Broadband platforms for strengthening the literacy findings and recommendations of their
Commission meeting comprising necessary for navigating digital spaces. final reports. The preliminary findings of
government leaders, as well as heads Addressing the persistent digital divide the interim discussion paper of the Working
of international organizations, private and meeting the Commission’s advocacy Group on Data for Learning were also
sector companies, civil society and targets requires strategies, policies and a introduced. During the meeting, Mr. Zhao,
academia. Special guests also attended, conducive regulatory environment, says the whose second term as Secretary-General
including Amandeep Singh Gill, UN report. That environment should encourage at ITU ends this year, was presented
Envoy on Technology, and Rabab Fatima, affordable, meaningful, safe and inclusive with a certificate of appreciation for his
UN Under-Secretary-General and High broadband services, and it should attract commitment to bringing broadband to
Representative for the Least Developed the large investment that is needed. “The the top of the global policy agenda and to
Countries, Landlocked Developing need for greater access to broadband that supporting digital cooperation for reaching
Countries and Small Island Developing is fit for purpose in this new world has never universal connectivity.
States (UN-OHRLLS). Among other topics, been more urgent,” said Doreen Bogdan-

Government to Ensure 5G Services Remain Affordable in India: Union IT
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Telecom companies will now not require from the appropriate authority," the by a structural engineer, authorized by
any approval from authorities for laying notification dated August 17 said. However, the appropriate authority, attesting to the
cables or installing mobile towers or poles the telecom companies will need to submit structural safety of the building or structure,
over private properties. Government has an intimation, in writing, to the appropriate where the mobile tower or pole is proposed
said that it will ensure that the 5G services authority, prior to the establishment of a to be established. Telecom companies
are affordable in India. The Union IT mobile tower or pole over a private building or using street furniture for the installation of
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that structure, according to the Indian Telegraph small cells will be required to pay Rs 300
his expectation was that 5G services will Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2022. In per annum in urban areas and Rs 150 per
reach in every part of the country. "Our their intimation to government authorities, annum in rural areas per street furniture, the
expectations are that 5G should reach in telecom companies will need to submit notification said. For installing cable using
every part of the country in next two to details of the building or structure, where street furniture, telecom companies will be
three years. We'll ensure that it remains the establishment of a mobile tower or pole required to pay Rs 100 per annum per street
affordable. The industry is focusing on is proposed, and a copy of certification furniture, according to the notification.
both urban as well as rural areas: Union IT
minister," ANI tweeted quoting the minister.
Meanwhile, telecom companies will now
not require any approval from authorities
for laying cables or installing mobile towers
or poles over private properties, according
to new Right of Way Rules notified by the
government recently. The government also
notified rules for using electric poles, foot
over bridges etc for installation of small
mobile radio antennas or laying overhead
telecom cables along with charges to ease
roll out of telecom networks specially 5G
services. "Where the licensee proposes
the establishment of overground telegraph
infrastructure over any private property, the
licensee shall not require any permission

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