Telangana has updated its telecom infrastructure regulations in line with the 2023 India Telecommunications Act, aiming to streamline permissions, ban property taxes on networks, and enhance infrastructure protection for faster network deployment.
Telangana has brought its state rules in line with India’s Telecommunications Act, 2023, moving to strengthen protection for telecom infrastructure and speed up permissions for network rollouts, according to a government order issued by the information technology and communications department. The change replaces the state’s 2021 right-of-way framework and bars municipalities and local bodies from levying property tax, cess or other charges on telecom networks installed on, over or under any property.
The order says the aim is to ensure uniform enforcement of the central law while making right-of-way applications faster and more predictable through digital processing. It also directs all departments, local bodies, corporations and public sector units to name nodal officers and register them on the Department of Telecommunications’ e-services portal within 30 days, with all applications to be handled through that system.
In a further boost for operators, the state said telecom networks should not be treated as part of the underlying property for transactions or for any tax, levy, fee or duty. The order also covers BharatNet, which has been designated a special project, and says public entities may not charge its implementing agencies or contractors any fee, rent, annuity or bank guarantee for telecom infrastructure on public land or property.
The state has also made the central “Call Before u Dig” app compulsory for excavation work, with damage to critical telecom infrastructure carrying penalties of up to three years in prison, a fine of up to ₹2 crore or both. Distribution companies have been told to treat electricity connections for BharatNet and other notified telecom projects as government connections, prioritise new links and move to composite billing for multi-site operators. All pending right-of-way applications up to March 31, 2026, are to be cleared by September 30, while monthly reviews will be led by district collectors and quarterly oversight will be carried out by the state broadband committee.
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