The regulator has simultaneously initiated pilots at major industrial hubs
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended the “Use of Street Furniture for Small Cells and Aerial Fibre deployment” for the launch of 5G.
As India plans to launch 5G, small cells can play a pivotal role in network upgradation and expansion, it explained along with the release of the recommendations.
“Use of higher frequency bands for 5G rollout will have shorter coverage as signals in these bands cannot travel through buildings or obstacles,” added TRAI on 29 Nov 2022.
Therefore, the macro cells will be required to be complemented with extensive deployment of small cells so as to support all kinds of uses and applications, at all locations, said the authority.
Small cells will also be used for traffic offloading since the carrying capacity of lower frequencies, used by macro radio sites, are limited.
Use of already available street furniture like poles etc. for mounting 5G Small Cells can obviate the need for erecting thousands of new towers resulting in economical and fast deployment of small cells.
The Small cells will require backhaul connectivity which again can be provided very fast through aerial fibre deployment using street furniture.
The deployment of small cells and aerial fiber on street furniture can face many issues like identifying the suitable street furniture based on availability of backhaul, power, capabilities of street furniture for mounting suitable equipment, scalability, and concerns related to local approval, and safety.
The right of way procedure, sharing of the street furniture amongst various users, permissions needed for power supply under state electricity laws, exemptions or bulk permissions for small cell deployment will also be required to be addressed.
With the objectives of developing cross sectoral framework which promotes sharing of street furniture infrastructure among various central, state and municipal authorities to develop state of the art 5G network, TRAI had simultaneously initiated pilots at Bhopal Smart City, GMR International Airport New Delhi, Deendayal Port Kandla and Namma Metro Bengaluru on use of street furniture for Small Cells and aerial fiber deployment.
Based on the consultations process and learning from these pilots, TRAI has prepared its comprehensive recommendations to the Government on conducive regulatory and policy framework to ensure successful and rapid rollout of small cells and optical fiber using street furniture in all smart cities, other cities and towns, ports, airports, metro rails, Industrial parks, and estates etc.
The emphasis of the recommendations is on creating a regulatory framework which facilitates collaboration and participation among various departments, central and state agencies, local bodies and service providers. fiinews.com
