Andhra Pradesh to offer free land, subsidised power for mobile towers in rural regions

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to provide suitable land without rent, subsidised power supply and viability gap funding, wherever required, to facilitate the installation of mobile towers in villages and habitations that currently lack mobile coverage. The decision, formalised through orders issued by the Information Technology, Electronics and Communications Department, is part of the state's push to achieve 100 per cent mobile connectivity and ensure seamless delivery of citizen services.

According to an official release, several rural and remote habitations remain outside reliable mobile coverage because establishing telecom infrastructure in low-density areas is not commercially viable for operators. Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) had earlier requested the government to support their network expansion in such uncovered locations by helping cover the costs of land and power. This digital gap is particularly noticeable in remote, forested and hilly areas where terrain and low population density make construction difficult and costly.

Taking these requests into account, the government has decided to extend the necessary assistance. The support will be reviewed every three years to assess whether it needs to continue in places where subscriber numbers have increased and the network infrastructure has become commercially self-sustaining. This ensures that public funds are used only where genuinely required.

Participating TSPs will be required to set up mobile towers and related infrastructure within prescribed timelines. The initiative also includes provisions for intra-circle roaming facilities, enabling users to seamlessly connect across different networks. This is particularly useful in areas where multiple standalone networks may not be commercially viable, as it allows efficient sharing of existing infrastructure. The government has also emphasised the need for infrastructure sharing among operators to reduce duplication and costs.

State-owned BSNL, along with private telecom operators Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea, are part of the implementation framework. The government expects this model to accelerate the expansion of mobile networks in uncovered villages and habitations, offering a scalable pathway towards complete mobile connectivity across Andhra Pradesh.

Mobile connectivity has become an essential utility for citizens, enabling access to everything from healthcare and education to banking and government services. In many rural areas, the lack of network coverage forces residents to travel long distances to make a call or access the internet. The Andhra Pradesh government's intervention seeks to remove this barrier.

The provision of land free of rental charges significantly reduces the capital expenditure required for setting up a mobile tower. Subsidised power supply addresses a recurring operational cost, which is often a deterrent for operators in low-revenue regions. The viability gap funding, meanwhile, is designed to cover any remaining gap between projected revenue and the cost of providing service, making it financially feasible for companies to extend their networks.

Reliable mobile networks are increasingly seen as a prerequisite for digital inclusion. They enable citizens to participate in the digital economy and access government services online, reducing the need to travel to faraway offices. The initiative is expected to improve access to programmes such as direct benefit transfers, telemedicine and online education, which are vital for rural development.

With the involvement of all major telecom service providers, the initiative is expected to help create a robust mobile network in rural Andhra Pradesh. Over time, the support mechanisms are designed to taper off once a site becomes commercially viable, ensuring a balanced approach to resource allocation.