Telcos can install mobile towers on govt buildings

Aiming to address mobile call drop problems, the government has decided to allow telecom firms to install mobile towers on government buildings.

In a recent meeting between Department of Telecom and Ministry of Urban Development (UD) officials, the UD Ministry agreed to allow telecom firms to install towers on government buildings under their control subject to structural safety and payment of appropriate licence fee by telecom service providers (TSP),” Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Such mobile towers should be a shared facility for all operators, he said, adding that to prevent call drops, installation of more towers is necessary.

Further, the DoT has pro-actively engaged in allaying the apprehensions of adverse effects on health due to EMF radiations from mobile towers.

Prasad said MoUD and chief ministers have been addressed for providing single window clearances, space in government land and buildings for mobile sites.