Grapevine

Right of Way crisis stalls telcos fibre rollout drive

Despite the country’s strides in digital adoption, a key impediment to fully realising this digital future is the struggle to roll out the essential infrastructure, which often meets roadblocks in the form of excessive Right of Way fees imposed by state governments.

RoW refers to the permissions granted to telecom companies to install, maintain, and upgrade infrastructure, such as fibre optic cables, cell towers, and antennas on public or private property.

These cables are the backbone of a modern digital economy, powering everything from online education to financial services and e-commerce.

However, instead of creating a conducive environment for these advancements, many state governors see RoW as an avenue to impose exorbitant fees on telcos, hampering the expansion of critical infrastructure.

Costly challenge