The Indian government has taken important steps to streamline the Right of Way (RoW) permissions for the infrastructure providers (IPs) and the telecom operators. These measures will help accelerate 5G rollout in the country. The latest data from the Smart Cities Mission by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs reveals impressive progress, with 7,218 projects worth Rs 1,45,083 crore already completed out of 8,016 projects valued at Rs 1,64,223 crore. It is also worth noting that 5G has been embraced by over 17 crore wireless data subscribers in the country and it has only been 19 months from the launch.

The launch of the PM GatiShakti Sanchar portal was a major boost to the deployment of telecom infrastructure in India. Along with that, the government also came up with quick provisions to allow the telcos to leverage the street furniture for deploying small cells and telegraph lines for 5G rollout.

"Infrastructure Providers play a major role in enhancing the health of the telecom sector. Their contribution is instrumental in building the robust digital infrastructure necessary for the success of Smart Cities and the wider Digital Bharat Mission. The streamlined processes for RoW permissions and expedited clearances will undoubtedly accelerate our progress towards making India a global leader in digital innovation and urban development," said Tilak Raj Dua, Director General of DIPA.

The rollout of 5G and the synergy between government initiatives and industry policy is set to scale the living standards of urban cities and boost connectivity across the nation. Indian telecom operators have completed the fastest 5G rollout in the world, deploying infrastructure and activating it for customers at an unprecedented pace. The users are also getting unlimited 5G from their operators at no additional cost with 4G prepaid/postpaid plans.