Noida Is Heading For Mobile, Internet Connectivity Crisis

22 March, Noida

Noida is heading for a potential mobile and internet connectivity crisis. 130 cellphone towers went off air Saturday after power supply to them was switched off because the companies operating them failed to heed a notice to shift the towers out of residential areas.

Power connection to all 500 towers was snapped by the Residents’ Tower Association (RTA), a group of house owners on whose premises the towers have been installed.

The other 370 towers, according to RTA members, were running on backup. The move follows show-cause notices issued by the Noida Authority to the RTA members asking them to remove the towers from residential areas or face cancellation of land lease.

According to an official statement from Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Tower and Infrastructure Providers’ Association (TAIPA), the step could result in total disruption of telephony services to Noida.

Noida Authority chairman Rama Raman, however, assured there would be no connectivity breakdown.

According to members of RTA, they started the shutting down power from 8 pm on Friday when several members started receiving notices from the Noida Authority.