Guwahati: Leading telecom service providers, including Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, have jointly submitted a request to the Chief Airport Officer of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA), seeking approval for the deployment of a Common In-Building Solution (IBS) at the airport terminal.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring seamless and high-quality mobile connectivity for passengers, airport staff, and operations teams.
The proposal highlights that only licensed Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) with valid spectrum rights and Universal Access Service Licenses (UASL) are legally permitted to deploy and operate such telecom infrastructure.
The deployment will be carried out without involving any unlicensed third-party infrastructure providers, in accordance with the Telecommunication Act, 2023, and relevant Right of Way Rules (RoW Rules).
In a letter to Chief Airport Officer Ashwin Noronha of LGBIA, the telecom service providers stated: “We propose the deployment of a common in-building solution within the airport terminal to provide seamless and high-quality telecom connectivity, without involving any third-party infrastructure provider.”
The operators also said that public authorities are obligated to provide RoW to licensed entities for infrastructure deployment, and such permissions should not attract charges beyond those prescribed under the RoW rules. They added that the deployment of IBS in public spaces entails significant capital and operational investment, with limited commercial returns.
“Despite this, we are fully committed to investing in infrastructure at the airport to ensure consistent and high-quality connectivity for all users. Accordingly, RoW permissions should be viewed as a facilitative measure for public service rather than a commercial opportunity,” the telcos said.
The move is in the public interest, ensuring uninterrupted telecom coverage at a key transportation hub in the Northeast.
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“We request your approval to conduct a joint survey of the airport premises and the permission to deploy the common network so as to enable us to move forward with the timely installation of the IBS network,” the letter stated.
