Government facilitates TSPs' ability to switch equipment

TSPs must instead communicate with the WPC Wing online using the Saral Sanchar portal, giving them more freedom and control over how they manage their network resources.

In an effort to improve the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the telecom industry, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) published its decision on the transfer and relocating of telecom equipment by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Communications states that telecom companies can now complete such transfers more effortlessly, quickly and easily.

The most recent announcement from the DoT gives TSPs the freedom to move or re-deploy their wireless equipment between Licenced Service Areas (LSAs) in accordance with their operational needs. This breakthrough is important because the only prerequisite for such transfers is previous notification to the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing.

The Department's formal approval is no longer required for these equipment moves, which streamlines the procedure for telecom providers and lowers barriers.

TSPs must instead communicate with the WPC Wing online using the Saral Sanchar portal, giving them more freedom and control over how they manage their network resources.

TSPs are permitted to email the specifics of their equipment relocating while the online notification mechanism is being set up. However, in accordance with the DoT's notification, this submission must be accompanied by a promise to update the data once it is accessible via the online platform.

The announcement also stresses how crucial it is to keep complete records and the requisite stock in relation to the transfer of telecom equipment. This action is intended to ensure compliance and transparency in the sector.

According to a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), India appears to have made progress in terms of business ease.Since the last survey, India has climbed six spots. India is now ranked 10th in terms of business, up from 14th for the years 2018 to 22.

India's standing in the World Bank's Doing Business rankings has significantly increased from 142 in 2014 to 63 in 2019. Seven of the ten parameters show progress.

The Union Budget 2023–24 noted the reduction of more than 39,000 compliances and the decriminalisation of more than 3,400 law provisions as ways to further improve the ease of doing business in the nation. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Jan Vishwas Bill to alter 42 Central Acts in order to promote trust-based governance at all levels.

For all digital systems utilised by the designated departments of governmental organisations, a 10-digit Permanent Account Number, or PAN, will be used as a standard business identifier. To prevent repetitive submission of papers, guarantee their authenticity, and speed up request processing, an integrated system of unified filing processes will be set up at the federal and state level departments.

The DoT's decision is a result of the government's continued efforts to increase the country's telecom sector's Ease of Doing Business. The government hopes to allow more efficient operations for telecom operators and stimulate additional investments in the quickly growing telecommunications sector by streamlining the procedure for moving wireless equipment across LSAs.