Over 60% of Pune’s Mobile Towers Unauthorized, Mainly Jio
Over 60% of Pune’s Mobile Towers Unauthorized, Mainly Jio
Nearly two years after 5G services were launched, more than 60 percent of mobile towers in Pune are unauthorized. A significant number of these towers belong to Jio, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. Many have been installed on private land, open spaces, and residential properties without the necessary permissions.
Residents have raised concerns about network disruptions, claiming that the unregulated installation of towers is affecting Jio’s 5G service quality. Numerous towers are located atop water tanks on buildings, yet the Sky Sign Department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken no action against these unauthorized setups.
Additionally, many areas lack the required 7/12 documentation, leading the municipality to deny permissions for legal tower installations. In many cases, mobile companies have circumvented these restrictions by placing towers on residential water tanks, offering building owners monthly rents ranging from Rs 45,000 to Rs 60,000. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has supported these installations by providing three-phase electricity connections.
In light of the challenges, a new policy for setting up mobile towers across the city will soon be introduced. This modern technology-based system allows installations on buildings, residential houses, street lamp posts, parks, and open spaces. Furthermore, all previously unauthorized towers will be regularized upon payment of fees, according to official sources from the municipal corporation.
As Pune moves towards improving its 5G infrastructure, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect existing setups and community concerns.
