The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on September 29, 2023, issued a press release regarding the recommendations on 'Improving Backhaul Telecom Infrastructure in far-flung areas of Himachal Pradesh'
The salient features of the recommendations have been stated as follows namely: -
• It states that a separate dedicated amount be set aside either out of USOF or from separate budgetary support from the Central Government to cater for rolling out of high-speed 4G/5 G-based cellular mobile coverage (including backhaul) at forward border area locations of strategic importance having significant troops deployment in HP as well as other states. The fund should also cater to the operating expenditure of such sites.
• The USOF through BSNL shall undertake a ground survey and fund the rollout of OFC backhaul connectivity from Tissa Block Headquarters to Udaipur via Pangi Block Headquarters.
• The DoT/ USOF shall re-engage with MoD to obtain one pair of OFC on lease for a period of five years from any of the captive OFC media networks of the latter, to secure a readily laid out OFC media resource for rolling out 4G/ 5G based cellular mobile services and high- speed internet connectivity in Pan-India forward locations adjoining border areas using funds set aside either out of USOF or from separate budgetary support from Central Government
• BSNL should engage with operating IP- 1 in the region of Chamba and Lahaul & Spiti districts respectively for the utilization of readily available dark fibers. These dark fibers will facilitate the transition of BSNL's operations in block headquarters of Rharmour, Mehla, Tissa, Salooni, and Spiti (Kaza) respectively, from radio/satellite-based medium to a linear optical fiber-based transmission backhaul.
• This strategic approach will not only enhance BSNL’s existing bandwidth capacity for the backhaul infrastructure but will also lead to significant savings in operational expenditure (OPEX) by eliminating the need for bearing high VSAT bandwidth charges.
• DoT must engage with the Government of HP to harmonize its Right of Way policy of 2021 with the Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016 Amendment dated August 17, 2022, in which, a provision also mandates telecom licensees to furnish an undertaking supported by a Performance Bank Guarantee (amounting to 20% of the restoration charges for immovable properties) to bear the responsibility for promptly restoring any damages incurred during laying out of any underground telegraph infrastructure.
• It states that the Authority has recommended that the charges paid by the lessee (a TSP) to any lessor TSP for the use of spare backhaul media transmission resource capacity of the latter, should be omitted from the Gross Revenues of the lessor TSP to arrive at Applicable Gross Revenue (ApGR) of such Lessor TSP. The required modification may also be carried out in UL, NLD, and ISP licenses.
[Press Release ID: 100/2023]
