Digital Communication Readiness

Index of Tamil Nadu

 Formation of Inter departmental co-
ordination committee
S.No Department Official Name Designation

1 Information Technology & Thiru.S.Arun ED-ELCOT

Digital Services Raj,I.A.S
2 Employment and Training Thiru. C. Additional
Ravichandran Director (CT)

3 TN Skill Development Thiru.K.V.Raj Kumar TNSDC-

Corporation Project Director
4 Industries, Investment, Thiru Nishant Executive
Promotion and Krishna, I.A.S, Director-TN
Commerce Department Guidance
5 TANFINET Thiru.B.Swaminathan Chief Operating
officer
6 School Education Thiru.R.Boopathi JD(Secondary)
7 Health and family welfare Tmt.V.Kalaiarasi.I.A.S Spl secretary
 Status of Indicators
State Led Initiatives Pillar
Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
Policy for 1(a) Whether state has notified policy for States Draft TN Telecom Infrastructure Policy
ROW RoW in alignment with IT ROW 2016, /UTs amendme 2022 was released in alignment
2021 and (amendment) rules 2022 nt under with Indian Telegraph Right of Way
circulation Rules 2016 and 2021
1(b) Whether timeline for clearance has States/ Yes As per policy clause No.8.2 (Pg
been provisioned in policy for RoW UTs No.19)
The District Nodal Officer shall
within a period not exceeding sixty
calendar days from the date of
application grant permission
1(c) Whether policy for RoW has States/ Yes As per policy clause No.8.2(b) (Pg
provision for deemed approval UTs No.19)
Provided further that the
permission shall be deemed to
have been granted if the
Appropriate Authority fails to
either grant permission under
clause (a) or reject the application
under clause (b) within sixty
calendar days of application.
 Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
Policy for 1(d) Whether policy for RoW has States Yes As per policy, clause No.15.1 and
ROW provision /UTs 15.2(Pg.No.31)
(a)one-time administrative charges of (i)Every application under sub-section (1) of
Rs.10,000/- for overground infra section 11 of the Policy for the purpose of
structure(mobile tower) establishing a Mobile Tower, shall be
(b)Fee for Overground and under-ground accompanied with a one-time
telegraph line not exceeding Rs.1000/- nonrefundable fee of Rs.10,000/- per Tower
per Km (exclusive of taxes) to meet administrative
expenses for examination of the application
(ii)Further, every application under sub-
section (1) of section 11 of the Policy for
the purpose of establishing Overground
Telegraph/Optical Fibre Cable line, shall be
accompanied with a one-time non-
refundable fee of Rs.1000/- per Kilometre
1(e) Whether Forest Department is included in States/UTs Yes As per G.O.(Ms).No.4 dated 25.01.2022,
RoW policy (Pg.No.7) The Tamil Nadu Telecom
whether Electricity Department and local States/UTs Yes Infrastructure Policy, 2022 has been issued
1(f) with the concurrence of stakeholder
bodies are included in RoW policy
departments, i.e., Energy, Environment,
Climate Change & Forests, Revenue &
Disaster Management, Highways & Minor
Ports, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj,
Housing & Urban Development, Finance,
Law, Municipal Administration & Water
Supply and Public Works and Water
Resources Departments.
 Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
Policy 1(g) Whether State/District Committees States/UTs yes (i) DLTC Committee is formed in
for ROW have been set up and meetings are 37 Districts
held regularly
1(h) Whether state has online portal for States/UTs Yes https://row.tn.gov.in
RoW clearance
1(i) Whether state online portal for States/UTs Yes
RoW clearance is integrated with
Gati Shakti Sanchar
1(j) Whether there is provision for States/UTs Yes As per policy clause 11.2 and
overhead OFC in RoW policy 11.3(Pg.No.23),
(i) the applicant shall, for the
purpose of establishing Overground
Telegraph Infrastructure, i.e. Mobile
Towers and Telegraph / Optical Fibre
Cable line, upon any immovable
property vested in or under the
control or management of any
Appropriate Authority, make a paper
application in FORM - II, supported
by such documents, to the District
Nodal Officer in the form and
manner as specified in this Policy.
(ii) The Overground Telegraph
Infrastructure shall be permitted
1(k) what % of applications of RoW States/UTs 19.3% New Infrastructure - 12.63%
approved within 60 days in year Regularisation -21.47 %
2023-24
 Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
Policy 1(l) whether state has incorporated the States/UTs Yes (i) As per G.O.(Ms)No.1,
for ROW provision of Dispute Resolution as per Information Technology (B4)
the provision of Indian Telegraph Right of Department dated 21.02.2018,
Way Rules,2016 (a)ELCOT was designated as
Nodal agency to develop single
electronic application process for
submission of online applications
by TSPs/Ips for grant of Right of
Way Permissions
(b)The Principal Secretary to
Government, IT&DS nominated
as Dispute Resolution Officer
(ii)As per G.O.(Ms)No. 09,
Information Technology and
Digital Services (E1) Department
dated 28.02.2023
appointed MD, ELCOT as
Grievance Redressal Officer

1(m) Average time (in days) taken for RoW States/UTs 53 days New Infrastructure - 73 days
approval In last one year Regularisation -41 days
1(n) whether permission is required from any States/UTs Amendme
authority for telecom infrastructure on nt Policy
private property implemented in state as 2022 yet
per amendment(2022) of IT RoW 2016 to be
rules?(it is recommended that only prior approved
intimation alongwith structural stability
certificate should be asked)
 Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
Policy 1(o) whether opportunity to be States/UTs Yes As per policy clause 8.2(b)
for heard before rejection of RoW (Pg.No.19),
ROW applications has been Provided that no application
incorporated in state RoW shall be rejected unless the
policy applicant has been given an
opportunity of being heard on
the reasons/deficiencies for
such rejection
1(p) whether restoration charges are States/UTs Amendme
required to be paid as per nt Policy
amendment(2022) of IT RoW 2022 yet
2016 rules? to be
approved
1(q) Any other initiative taken in this States/UTs yes (i)Tamil Nadu is one among the
regard by State/UT few States taken up the
regularization of existing
Telecom infrastructure and as
on 30.11.2023, about 28,000
cites were regularized.
(ii)To expedite the granting of
approvals, regular weekly
review meetings are conducted
with TSPs in the presence of
District Officials and DOT .Also
whenever necessary letters are
communicated to the District
Administration .
 Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
II. 2(a) Whether State has notified policy States/UTs Not applicable
Policy on shared duct Infrastructure?
2(b) Is the role of State Government, States/UTs
for Local bodies and Private sector
shared clearly defined in the policy?
duct Is the specification for provision of States/UTs
Infrastr 2(c)
shared duct Infrastructure in
ucture Municipalities, Rural areas and
State Highways available in the
policy?
2(d) What is the total length of shared States/UTs
duct infrastructure in the state/UT
as compared to State's area?
2(e) Any other initiative taken in this States/UTs
regard by State/UT
 Data
Sub-Pillar Q No Question Response Remarks
Source
III. Policy 3(a) Has the state adopted the National Building States/ Awaiting Housing and Urban development
for Building code 2016 with its addendum to Model UTs details from department has proposed the
codes Building ByeLaws for In-Building Solutions Housing amendments to the Tamil Nadu
for Telecom Infrastructure? and Urban Combined Development Building
Department Rules, 2019 regarding the provisions
for in building solutions for Digital
communication Infrastructure as per
the Model Building Byelaws. Housing
and Urban Department has requested
the DTCP and CMDA to send a
revised draft notification on
incorporating a provision for
prescribing requisite infrastructure for
in-building solutions, the rule 62 may
be suitably modified as it deals with
the telecommunications infrastructure.

3(b) Whether state has laid down clear policy States/ Amendment
(through Act / Rules/ Policy / Notifications) UTs Policy 2022
permission for installation of telecom towers / yet to be
Small cells / in-building solutions in Govt. approved
buildings / Govt. land?
3(c) Any other initiative taken in this regard by States/ Yes For 4G saturation Project under USOF
State/UT UTs funds, As per the records of M/s.BSNL
for erection of Towers - Total revenue
sites alloted-249 .workable Revenue
sites-186 and 63 sites of Revenue
dropped due to other TSPs 4G
Coverage , Rental sites - 10, Total
Forest sites- 23, Forest sites allotted -8
, Forest sites under progress in
 Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
IV. 5G 4(a) Whether state has a concessional rate States/UTs Amendme
Rollout for proliferation of small cells for 5G nt Policy
rollout? 2022 yet
4(b) Whether Administrative fee capped for States/UTs to be
the establishment of poles at Rs.1000 approved
per pole? Also, whether no
compensation for establishment of
poles for installation of small cells and
telegraph lines is to be paid?
4(c) Whether usage charges of street States/UTs
infrastructure for installation of small
cells is capped at Rs.150/- per annum in
rural area and Rs.300/- per annum in
urban areas per street furniture?
4(d) Whether usage charges of street States/UTs
infrastructure for installation of
telegraph lines capped at Rs.100/- per
annum per street furniture?
4(e) Any other initiative taken in this regard States/UTs Yes (i)As per announcement 2023-
by State/UT 24,State has initiated provision of
free wi-fi zones in the city of
chennai, tambaram, avadi,
coimbatore,madurai, tiruchirapalli
and salem
 Data Respons
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Remarks
Source e
V. 5(a) What %age of ITIs in the States/UTs States/ Nodal officer details received
Telecom are having telecom related skill UTs from Department of
Skilling training courses? awaiting Employment and Training.
details Details awaited for indicators
5(b) What %age of Polytechnics in the States/ from DET Nodal officer details received
States/UTs are having telecom UTs from Department of
related skill training courses? Employment and Training.
Details awaited for indicators
5(c) Number of individuals imparted skill States/ Yes 2167 candidates trained in
training in telecom sector as per UTs Telecom sector through
NSDC QP by State Skill TSDC
Development Mission in year 2021
as the % of the population of the For the year 2020-21 -1110
State? candidates ; year 2021-22 -
263 candidates ; year 2022-
23 -794 candidates
5(d) Any other initiative taken in this States/ Yes (i)TN Skill development
regard by State/UT UTs Corporation developed
Naan mudhalvan scheme
(ii)Tamil Nadu - The Global
AVGC-XR Hub Stakeholder
Consultation Workshop for TN
AVGC-XR Policy 2023 on
22.09.2023
 Data Respon
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Remarks
Source se
Whether timeline for providing power States/UTs Details
VI .Infra 6(a) connection to telecom towers has been awaited
structure provisioned in the Electricity Act/Rules/RTPS from
Act of the States/Uts? TANGEDCO
Support Is there a clear policy permitting DISCOMs to States/UTs
to 6(b) permit TSPs to lay overhead OFC along side
electricity transmission alignment / on DISCOM
Telecom poles?
Letter sent to the department
Whether smart energy meter is mandatorily States/UTs
6(c) being provided to all new electricity
connections in the states / UTs?

Which Energy tariff (Commercial/Industrial States/UTs

6(d) /Domestic) is applicable for telecom towers?
What % age of telecom towers is connected States/UTs
6(e) with Grid supply?
Whether there is a provision of open access to States/UTs
6(f) TSPs in the Electricity Act/Rules of the
States/UTs?

Any other initiative taken in this regard by States/UTs Yes As per clause 3.6(pg117) of Energy
6(g) State/UT? demand no.14 2023-24
, Ease of Doing Business, Ease of Living
& Business Reforms Action Plan
As a part of reforms aimed at fostering
an investor-friendly and hassle-free
environment, this department has
launched six of its services
related to electricity safety measures as
end-to end e-service delivery through
the single window portal of Guidance.
These include the (i) approval of
electrical drawings, (ii) issuance of
safety certificates, (iii) permission to
erect lifts, (iv) licensing of new lifts, (v)
permission for modifications to existing
 Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
VII. Other 7(a) Whether the State has a policy for States/UTs Yes As per the Startup TN Policy 2023 clause
promoting participation of telecom 7.4.4(pg29),The Tamil Nadu Government,
state sector Start-ups in state government through its G.O.(Ms.) No. 40, Micro, Small and
policies procurement? Medium Enterprises (A) Department, Dated
facilitatin 22.07.2021, has provided the following
g telecom concessions to eligible Startups in the State:
sector 7.4.4.1. Exemption from payment of Earnest
Money Deposit
7.4.4.2. Exemption from the condition of prior
turnover
7.4.4.3. Exemption from the condition of prior
experience
7.4.4.4. Waiver of tender cost
7(b) Whether the State has a policy for States/UTs Yes As per MSME Policy 2021 clause 4.8(A)(Pg13)–
promoting participation of telecom The Government have recently amended the
sector SMEs in state government Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tender Rules,
procurement? 2000, granting purchase preference of 25% in
public procurement from micro and small
enterprises registered within the State.
7(c) Whether Telecom equipment States/UTs Yes As per TN Electronics Hardware Manufacturing
manufacturing has been identified Policy 2020(pg 5), Aligned to the National Policy
as Priority Sector in State Industrial of Electronics 2019, Government of Tamil Nadu
Investment Promotion Policy? shall provide special support for developing core
competencies in the following
sub sectors Telecom/ Communication
Equipment
 Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
VII. Other 7(d) What is the total no. of Start-ups in States/UTs Details
Telecom sector in the State/UTs vis- awaited
state à-vis total startups? Nodal officer details and indicators details
policies What is the total no. of MSMEs in States/UTs awaited from MSME
facilitatin 7(e) Telecom sector in the State/UTs vis-
g telecom à-vis total MSMEs?
sector 7(f) What is Ease of Doing Business Department Not
(EODB) score of State/UT? of Industrial applicable
Policy and
Promotion
7(g) As there State schemes for States/UTs yes As per policy note 2022-23, clause 2.13,Welfare
providing smart phones or tablets or Schemes, 5.44 Lakhs of 11th standard students
laptops to BPL Students/facilities? If were benefited in year 2021-22
so, details of percentage of
population covered during previous
year be provided
7(h) Whether there is any initiative by States/UTs Yes As per policy note 2023-24, clause 8,Cyber
States/UTs to educate and sensitize Crime Wing has conducted various awareness
public about cyber fraud? programs in Schools, Colleges and Government
offices on emerging cyber frauds
7(i) Whether the State/UT government States/UTs Yes As per policy note 2023-24, clause 8,The Cyber
has incorporated cyber fraud as a Crime Wing Headquarters has
specialised training programme for blocked 85 Websites, 46 YouTube videos, 59
Police personnel? Facebook pages/ profiles, 6 Instagram pages, 15
Twitter pages and 211 Google and Play Store
Applications which were fake / fraudulent in
nature.
7(j) Any other initiative taken in this States/UTs Details
regard by State/UT? awaited
 Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
VIII. 8(a) %age of GPs having States/ 56.6% 7098 out of 12525 (56.6%) Gram
Instituti broadband connectivity UTs Panchayats across the State has
onal in States/UTs. been made service ready
access
to
Broadb
and
8(b) %age of PHCs having States/ 70% Broadband connectivity
wireline broadband UTs provided for 1609 PHC's out of
connectivity in 2286 PHC's. Remaining under
States/Uts process.
8© %age of Schools having States/ 100%
broadband connectivity UTs
in States/Uts
8(d) Any other initiative States/ Yes Towards providing broadband
taken in this regard by UTs connectivity to end users through
State/UT? TANFINET, TANFINET has
proposed to implement Bharat
Net Last mile connectivity. This is
currently under progress.
 Outcomes that measure impact of State
initiatives
Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
IX. ICT Use 9(a) What is the data TRAI Not applicable
consumption per month
per internet subscriber
(in GB) in State/UT?
9(b) What is the NeSDA NeSDA
score- (Government
online Services) in
State/UT?
9© What is the volume of e- MeiTY
transactions per 1000
population in State/UT?
9(d) What is the volume of NPCI
Digital transactions per
1000 population in
State/UT?
9(e) Any other initiative States/UTs Details awaited
taken in this regard by
State/UT?
 Outcomes that measure impact of State
initiatives
Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
.X. Status of 10(a) What is the number of Mobile towers DGT, DoT Not
per 1000 population in the State/UT?
Telecom applicable
Indicators in the
state
10(b) What is the number of BTS per 1000 DGT, DoT Not
population in the State/UT?
applicable
10© What is the %age of BTS Fiberized in the DGT, DoT Not
State/UT?
applicable
10(d) What is the number of wireline TRAI Not
telephone per 100 population in the
State/UT? applicable
10(e) No. of smartphones per 100 population States/Uts Not clear about
the source of
data
10(f) What is the number of mobile broadband TRAI Not
subscriptions per 100 population in the
State/UT vis-a-vis All-India? applicable
10(g) What is the average download data speed TRAI Not
in the State/UT?
applicable
10(h) Percentage of household having FTTH TRAI Not
connections in the State/UT?
applicable
10(i) What %age of GPs/Villages are connected USOF Not
by OFC or satellite connected (by
Bharatnet/State SPV/TSP/ISP etc.) applicable
 Outcomes that measure impact of State
initiatives
Data
Sub-Pillar Q No. Question Response Remarks
Source
XI. 11(a) Whether MoU on RoW USOF Not
Bharatnet facilitation signed for applicab
BharatNet? le
11(b) Whether free RoW provided USOF
for BharatNet including use
of electric poles?
11© Percentage of GPs/Villages USOF
with Public WiFi hotspots in
the State/UT?
11(d) Any other initiative taken in States/Uts Details
this regard by State/UT? awaited