Infrastructure Provider – I
(IP-I) is a registration granted by the Department of
Telecommunications (DoT) to entities that establish and provide
passive telecom infrastructure, such as towers, ducts, and dark
fiber, to licensed telecom service providers (TSPs). This
registration allows IP-I entities to support the telecom industry
by offering essential passive infrastructure, facilitating the
delivery of telecom services to end users. On 27 June 2024, the DoT
released an amendment applicable to the registration for IP-I
entities. The amendment now explicitly prohibits IP-I entities from
entering into exclusive agreements with any public or private
entities for establishing passive telecom infrastructure (like,
dark fibers, ducts and towers) or for obtaining necessary rights of
way (RoW). This move is intended to curb monopolistic tendencies of
IP-I entities, who have been increasingly obtaining exclusive
rights and RoWs from land / building owners and
