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<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>NEW DELHI: The government should make compliance to the Central Right of Way<\/a> (RoW) Rules 2016 mandatory and legally enforceable, telecom tower companies said.

Tower companies also said the RoW rules should be amended to include the installation of in-building solutions (IBS), small cells, Cell-on-Wheels (CoW), poles, aerial fibre, and street furniture.

In their submission to the
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India<\/a> (TRAI<\/a>)’s consultation paper on ‘Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcast Sector’, the companies further urged the DoT to allow infrastructure sharing, besides allowing IP-1s to install and own active infrastructure equipment without the need of a license which will benefit small and medium telecom infrastructure providers.

IP-1s should be allowed to share the infrastructure with any valid license\/registration holder from any government ministry, including the telecom department (DoT), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), Ministry of Electronics & IT (
MeitY<\/a>), and Railtel<\/a>, who are providing any kind of digital services to the end-user, the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association<\/a> (DIPA<\/a>) said in its submission to the regulator’s consultation paper.

The regulator kicked off the consultation process on December 8 and has sought stakeholder views on simplifying the current provisions of policy frameworks in various ministries and departments.

Currently, 26 states are aligned with the Centre’s RoW rules while others — Delhi, Gujarat, Kerala, and the union territory of Daman & Diu are yet to align their rules with the Centre’s guidelines to facilitate expeditious roll out of infrastructure.

Further, there is an urgent need for rationalization of property tax across the country, DIPA said. “Wherever the infrastructure providers have to bear exorbitant taxes\/ duties in the state, it hampers the ability\/ reduces their capacity to invest for upgradation of telecom infrastructure in the state.”

Considering that the telecom infrastructure sector is capital intensive, it requires a uniform financial and tax policy framework support from the government.

“Telecom towers should be included in the definition of ‘plant and machinery in section 17(5). It will help to avail the Input credit against the GST paid on telecom towers,” DIPA said.

\"Next<\/a><\/figure>

Next set of reforms to reduce compliances, simplify licensing regime: K. Rajaraman<\/a><\/h2>

\"We are looking at deepening the process of ease of doing business, essentially compliance. Last year, 87 compliances were done away with. A number of other licences, both wireless as well as wireline, need to be further simplified.\"<\/p><\/div>

\"\"
<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>NEW DELHI: The government should make compliance to the Central Right of Way<\/a> (RoW) Rules 2016 mandatory and legally enforceable, telecom tower companies said.

Tower companies also said the RoW rules should be amended to include the installation of in-building solutions (IBS), small cells, Cell-on-Wheels (CoW), poles, aerial fibre, and street furniture.

In their submission to the
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India<\/a> (TRAI<\/a>)’s consultation paper on ‘Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcast Sector’, the companies further urged the DoT to allow infrastructure sharing, besides allowing IP-1s to install and own active infrastructure equipment without the need of a license which will benefit small and medium telecom infrastructure providers.

IP-1s should be allowed to share the infrastructure with any valid license\/registration holder from any government ministry, including the telecom department (DoT), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), Ministry of Electronics & IT (
MeitY<\/a>), and Railtel<\/a>, who are providing any kind of digital services to the end-user, the Digital Infrastructure Providers Association<\/a> (DIPA<\/a>) said in its submission to the regulator’s consultation paper.

The regulator kicked off the consultation process on December 8 and has sought stakeholder views on simplifying the current provisions of policy frameworks in various ministries and departments.

Currently, 26 states are aligned with the Centre’s RoW rules while others — Delhi, Gujarat, Kerala, and the union territory of Daman & Diu are yet to align their rules with the Centre’s guidelines to facilitate expeditious roll out of infrastructure.

Further, there is an urgent need for rationalization of property tax across the country, DIPA said. “Wherever the infrastructure providers have to bear exorbitant taxes\/ duties in the state, it hampers the ability\/ reduces their capacity to invest for upgradation of telecom infrastructure in the state.”

Considering that the telecom infrastructure sector is capital intensive, it requires a uniform financial and tax policy framework support from the government.

“Telecom towers should be included in the definition of ‘plant and machinery in section 17(5). It will help to avail the Input credit against the GST paid on telecom towers,” DIPA said.

\"Next<\/a><\/figure>

Next set of reforms to reduce compliances, simplify licensing regime: K. Rajaraman<\/a><\/h2>

\"We are looking at deepening the process of ease of doing business, essentially compliance. Last year, 87 compliances were done away with. A number of other licences, both wireless as well as wireline, need to be further simplified.\"<\/p><\/div>