Now Reading: Andhra Pradesh offers free land, subsidised power for mobile towers
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Andhra Pradesh offers free land, subsidised power for mobile towers
Andhra Pradesh will give rent-free government land and subsidised electricity for mobile towers in villages without mobile coverage, aiming for universal connectivity. The subsidy will stop once a tower reaches about 450…
The Story in Brief
Andhra Pradesh will give rent-free government land and subsidised electricity for mobile towers in villages without mobile coverage, aiming for universal connectivity. The subsidy will stop once a tower reaches about 450 subscribers, the estimated break-even point, and standard power tariffs will apply then. Telecom providers including BSNL, Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea are part of the plan, and must build towers within set deadlines. Intra-Circle Roaming facilities will allow seamless service across networks. The model will be reviewed every three years to check commercial viability.
The Indian Opinion
This is a sensible subsidy, temporary, targeted, with a clear off-ramp of 450 subscribers per tower. But the real test is enforcement. Past infrastructure schemes have seen towers erected, power connected, and then no review for years. The government says it will reassess viability every three years. Will it actually withdraw support when targets are met? The first review in 2029 will answer that.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
