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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed Noida International Airport to allow licensed telecom service providers to install and operate their own in-building network infrastructure under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Right of Way Rules, 2024. The order, issued to Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd, clarifies that the airport falls under the definition of a public entity and must grant non-discriminatory access. The move follows similar action at Navi Mumbai International Airport and comes amid concerns raised by telecom operators over restricted access and third-party network arrangements.
The Department of Telecommunications has asked Noida International Airport to permit licensed telecom companies to set up, operate and maintain their own network infrastructure within the airport premises in accordance with the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024. Advertisement
In its communication to Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd, the airport's operator, the department clarified that the airport qualifies as a public entity under the Act. As a result, it is required to provide telecom service providers with fair, transparent and non-discriminatory right-of-way permissions for installing mobile towers, in-building solutions and related digital infrastructure.
The direction follows representations made by the Cellular Operators Association of India, which had sought clarity on whether licensed operators would be allowed to directly deploy their infrastructure at the upcoming airport. Telecom companies had expressed concern over the possibility of being required to route services through a third-party infrastructure provider instead of installing their own active equipment. They had maintained that licensed service providers are legally empowered and technically capable of deploying and managing networks independently.
This development comes close to similar guidance issued by the DoT to the operator of Navi Mumbai International Airport, where telecom access and network arrangements had also become a matter of discussion. In that case, issues related to limited network presence and exclusive arrangements had raised concerns about connectivity quality for passengers.
Industry discussions around Noida International Airport had also included a separate arrangement between a state-run telecom firm and a private infrastructure company for providing connectivity solutions at the airport. However, major private telecom operators had jointly pushed for a framework that allows each licensed operator to deploy its own in-building network systems without being dependent on a single infrastructure intermediary.
The DoT's latest directive reinforces that infrastructure classified as a public entity must comply with statutory provisions governing right-of-way and telecom deployment. With the airport preparing for operations, ensuring reliable voice and data connectivity has become a key operational requirement, especially given the increasing dependence on digital services for ticketing, security processing and passenger services.
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