To ensure denser coverage in urban areas and faster deployment of 5G services, the DoT may exempt installation of low-power 5G transceivers from the current approval process.
This will allow installation of low power base transceiver stations (LPBTS) with an effective radiation power of less than 600 watts, and telecom service providers (TSPs) can install them on street furniture such as electric poles, bus stops, officials told BLiTZ. And will be able to put it on the traffic light.
BTS are fixed radio transceivers in a mobile network. Often they are installed on mobile towers. The ability to install small devices on street furniture for 5G services is key for telecom service providers and they are expected to accelerate their plans to roll out 5G networks.
In November last year, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had staked claim on a special category of LPBTs or small cells and in its official recommendations called for aerial fiber laying and adoption of street furniture for small cells.
Such equipment or small cells will only require permission from the agency that owns the street furniture. It can be the power company or the municipal administration or the traffic police department and no approval from the Center will be required for this.
Due to its low radiation level, the small cells will require less protection and installation activity, so it will be easier to install and operate.
TRAI had said that small cells would also be used for traffic offloading because of their ability to carry lower frequencies.
Officials said the acceptability of street furniture for 5G is also supported by the pilot studies conducted by TRAI last year at Bhopal Smart City, GMR International Airport, New Delhi, Deendayal Port, Kandla and Namma Metro Bengaluru.
The deployment of higher frequency spectrum bands such as 5G in urban areas poses some challenges compared to 2G, 3G, and 4G networks.
If the frequency band is high, it can spread over a short distance. Signals in these bands cannot travel through buildings or obstructions.
Because of this, 5G networks will need to deploy macro cells densely so that they can support all types of uses and applications at every location. In such a situation, these cells will now need to be installed at a distance of 100 meters from each other, whereas earlier it was to be installed at a distance of 3 kilometers. Because of this, telecom service providers have to rely on small cell equipment to make the network denser, so that the signal can reach urban areas.
More use of 5G is expected in urban areas. The spread range of these cells is generally less but due to the large number, their geographical coverage can be increased. Industry insiders said 200 such cells may need to be set up in a square kilometer area in big cities. Officials said that after the rule change, TSPs will not have to go through the cumbersome approval process, which is currently included in the norms for setting up mobile towers.
DoT had amended the existing right of way rules in August 2022. But TRAI has recommended further amendments to the rules to bring clarity in the term street furniture. It also includes a provision for considering a large number of applications.
