Chennai: Stronger mobile signals, fewer call drops, and faster internet speeds are set to become standard features in large residential and commercial buildings across Tamil Nadu soon. The state govt made key amendments to building rules to make this possible.TN govt amended the Tamil Nadu combined development and building rules, 2019, mandating dedicated in-building telecom infrastructure in large buildings and layouts to strengthen digital connectivity across the state.
As per a govt order, buildings with a floor area exceeding 750sqm must provide dedicated telecom rooms under the newly introduced in-building solutions (IBS) framework. IBS refers to telecom infrastructure and associated equipment installed within buildings to ensure high-speed data transmission, enhanced signal coverage, reduced call drops, and optimal spectrum usage.IBS shall be protected from flooding, free from exposure to water, moisture, fumes, gases, and dust, and have adequate floor loading capacity to support IBS equipment, and should be located away from vibration sources to avoid dislocation or dislodgement.Projects above 2,000sqm must have a service plan with required specifications certified by a qualified telecom-networking consultant. The infrastructure should be accessible to all authorized telecom service providers.In plotted development, the plans should indicate the telecom as a utility infrastructure line. “Empty pipes (large size Hume pipes or HDPE pipes) of minimum width of 0.15m in diameter shall be laid along the outer edges of the layout roads in order to accommodate telecommunication cable,” reads the order.“The amendment is expected to directly benefit home buyers by ensuring stronger indoor mobile signal, fewer call drops, and faster internet speeds, particularly in high-rise apartments and large residential complexes. By mandating access to all service providers, residents will have greater choice of networks. The move will also make buildings future-ready for expanding 5G services, enhance property value, and reduce the need for repeated road-cutting and messy cabling in layouts,” said Ramprabhu, chairman of DTCP committee at the builders association of India.
