Bengal’s updated telecom infrastructure guidelines could receive clearance from the state government by December as telecom operators plan to roll out 5G service in the city by the end of the year.

The state has been working on changes to the existing West Bengal Telecom Infrastructure Guidelines, 2020 after the union ministry of telecommunications in August notified amendments to the Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016, where crucial changes were made to facilitate setting up infrastructure including installation of small cells on street furniture for 5G services.

The amendment also specifies a certain schedule of charges for the establishment of underground and overground telegraph infrastructure besides charges of restoration and compensation.

The state conducted a workshop on Monday on the 5G rollout, its use cases and allied issues where industry stakeholders including officials from the Department of Telecommunications participated.

Representatives from the telecom industry had urged the government to provide support on the layout of aerial fibre deployment, which is more cost-effective than underground cables, usage of government buildings, electric poles and other street infrastructure to install small cells.

A key industry concern is the implementation of the updated policy on the ground level, particularly by district officials and municipal authorities.

“Our sincere request would be the elements of the policy should be adopted in its true sense,” said an industry official who attended the meeting.

Rollout on track

Officials of Airtel said that following the rollout of 5G services in Siliguri, the plan next is to cover Calcutta by December and eventually the entire state by March 2024.

Officials of Jio said that its 5G coverage in Calcutta, which is already available, is being ramped up on a daily basis and will cover the city within this calendar year. Jio is also expanding services in Bengal in a phased manner starting with Siliguri.