In a bid to counter China’s high-speed cellular connectivity in areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Ladakh administration has amended the Communication Connectivity Infrastructure Rules 2020 (LCCIR) to accelerate upgradation and expansion of telecom networks and speed up the rollout of 5G services in the cold desert region that is witnessing a long stretched standoff on its borders with China.

A meeting of the 5G working committee was held in Leh on Friday under the Chairmanship of Advisor Umang Narula to review and discuss the amendments to the LCCIR and Right of Way Policy, Ladakh.

The move has come amidst complaints of poor cellular connectivity in far-flung villages, whereas China has installed latest communication infrastructure in the shephard villages that have come up along the LAC in the past two years.

In the meeting presided by Narula, it was informed that the LCCIR-20 lays down guidelines for implementation of over-ground (Mobile Towers, Cells on Wheels, etc.) and underground (Optical Fiber Cable) infrastructure establishment in the Union Territory.

Advisor Narula noted that the amendments would pave the way for the installation of 5G services in the Union Territory.

Principal Secretary, Information Technology Department, Sanjeev Khirwar, gave a comprehensive presentation to the participants on the proposed amendments to the LCCIR, 2020.

He stated that these rules were made to introduce transparency and to ease out the entire process of applying for approval, installation, and maintenance of telecom infrastructure across the Union Territory in a time-bound manner to ensure quality telecom service in Ladakh. He shared that no charges would be levied for the mobilization of small cells and telegraph lines using street furniture.

Further, he informed that the LCCIR-20 will also be integrated with the central Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal.

The meeting was also attended by the Principal Secretary, Planning and Revenue Department; Commissioner/Secretary, Rural Development Department; DDG (Rural), Chief Engineer, PWD, Telecom Enforcement & Resource Monitoring Cell, J&K; General Manager BSNL, Ladakh, and officials of the IT Department, Ladakh.