New telecom rules to take effect from January 1, impacting Jio, Airtel, BSNL, and Vi

New Delhi: The government has announced changes to telecom regulations under the Right of Way (RoW) framework, set to come into effect on January 1, 2024.

The updated rules aim to facilitate the installation of optical fiber and telecom towers, significantly benefiting telecom operators like Jio, Airtel, BSNL, and Vi, along with infrastructure providers.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has urged all states to adopt the revised RoW guidelines, which are part of the Telecom Act. The rules also include exemptions on certain charges to streamline operations across states.

DoT Secretary Neeraj Mittal has written to state secretaries, said that there is need for compliance with the new framework by November 30. Once implemented, the updated RoW portal will play a key role in expediting telecom infrastructure development and improving connectivity nationwide.