As the government of India implementing curfew and lockdown situations in many states due to surging COVID-19 cases, it becomes of utmost importance to ensure the continuity of telecom tower operations 24 x7.
The industry body Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) has requested the telecom department (DoT) to ensure continued connectivity during the lockdown period.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted TAIPA Director-General T R Dua urging the Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash to instruct relevant central ministries, authorities, circles, and the state/union territory governments to offer full support to the telecom infrastructure providers to enable them to carry out uninterrupted installation, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure, and ensure 24X7 availability of services.
The association emphasised that there should be no coercive action or sealing of telecom infrastructure and telecom towers in the country, as it sought urgent de-sealing of all the telecom tower sites.
The industry body has requested DoT to direct all the concerned ministries and authorities along with the state governments for extending support to the Telecom Infrastructure Providers (IP-1) during the ongoing lockdown. It wants the DoT to get permission for field staff and technicians to move unrestrictedly for routine tasks and maintenance on the telecom tower sites, which includes refuelling of diesel and more.
Terming telecom services as "pivotal" for enabling e-services, online applications, and remote working, Dua stressed that ensuring the continuity of telecom tower operations around-the-clock during curfew and lockdown situations is of utmost importance.
