Accelerating its efforts to reach out broadband connectivity in all corners of the State, the government has announced fixation of charges for setting up of small cells in gram panchayats and urban local bodies.
The government had issued certain terms and conditions for setting up of Base Stations and installation of equipment for telecommunication networks and leasing of space in government offices on a non-exclusive basis to any licensed telecom service provider. The decision to allow erection of small cells comes after the receipt of several representations from licensed Telecom Service Provider seeking support to deploy small cells in Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies to enable continuous and seamless connectivity outdoors as well as indoors as a part of making Digital Andhra Pradesh.
Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao reviewed the issue during a meeting with senior officials had announced the decision to fix rates for erection of small cells in view of 4G expansion in the State. Accordingly, it was decided to levy onetime charges of Rs. 15,000 a unit in municipal corporations, select and special grade municipalities for erection of small cells. The charges would be Rs. 10,000 a unit in first, second and third grade municipalities and nagar panchayats while it would be Rs. 5,000 in case of gram panchayats.
The government had embarked upon small-cell network for expansion of services as it could be realised by means of distributed radio technology consisting of centralised base-band units and remote radio heads. Small cells can be used to provide in-building and outdoor wireless service and mobile operators use small cells to extend their service coverage and/or increase network capacity.
Focussing on radio signal on a specific area, these networks can be utilised to enhance or focus on small cell coverage. Small cells, managed by mobile operators, provide small radio footprint which can range from 10 meters within urban and in-building locations to 2 km for a rural location.
