TRAI SECY FAULTS RESIDENTIAL BODIES CHARGING TELECOM FIRMS FOR ACCESS
New Delhi, Feb. Minimum standards need to be developed for provision of telecom services within buildings and residential complexes and the "wrong" mindset that telcos should pay to get access for laying down infrastructure in housing complexes must change, a senior Trai official said.
The growth of telecommunications, the underlying critical infrastructure, is closely linked to growth of every sector and the economy as a whole, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India secretary, S.K. Gupta said.
"Different types of builders, their associations and RWAs resident welfare associations) have to be taught about the importance of telecom and (need to be) convinced that they have to change their mindset of penalising telecom service providers by asking money from them to provide the services—in fact it is you (building residents) who requires the services, not telecom service providers," Gupta said.
He was speaking at an interactive workshop of industry body Broadband India Forum (BIF).
The pandemic and workfrom-home culture has driven the need for seamless connectivity inside residential buildings and multiple data users within a family—from children taking online classes to professionals working remotely from home— have underlined the importance of good coverage in every nook and corner of the house, he noted.
He emphasised that unless the quality of services is good, next generation 5G will not serve its purpose. "...if you talk about the economy, you have to talk about the health of telecommunications.