The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has changed the rules for the unified access service license (UASL), expanding the reach of active connectivity to improve public WiFi services and increase network coverage.
“Active infrastructure sharing related to WiFi equipment such as WiFi routers, access points, and the sharing of backhaul” has been permitted under the amended Clause 33 (IV) of the UASL rules. Until now, licensed service providers’ active infrastructure sharing was limited to antennae, feeder cables, Node Bs, radio access networks (RANs), and transmissions.
“The amendment will be part and parcel of UASL agreements, and will be effective with immediate effect,” DoT said in a notification on Tuesday.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) four years ago to amend license rules to allow for active infrastructure sharing for public WiFi services, with the intention of increasing effective broadband access. It had specifically requested that the department issue a statement allowing for the sharing of WiFi equipment such as routers, access points, and backhaul, which would help support public WiFi more effectively. This is because telecom service providers will be able to save money on both Capex and Opex by sharing WiFi networks.
The Department of Transportation first authorized the sharing of active telecoms infrastructure including antennae, feeder cables, and transmission systems in2016, with the intention of speeding up network rollouts and lowering telco costs. Previously, telecom service providers may only share passive network facilities including mobile towers.
The new extension of active infrastructure sharing rules comes just over four months after the Union Cabinet approved a plan to improve national broadband penetration by using unlicensed organizations to provide public WiFi, similar to the PCO model of yesterday.