Airport connectivity row: Telcos urge Trai to step in

COAI seeks a cap on charges for in-building mobile networks at public places such as airports

- Jatin Grover

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents major telecom firms, has approached the telecom regulator, seeking a cap on charges for in building mobile network infrastructure at public places such as airports. This comes amid a standoff over providing connectivity at the newly opened Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).

The association has urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to examine the conduct of the airport, operated by the Adani Group, in denying telcos right-of-way (RoW) permissions to lay telecom infrastructure, and creating an exclusive, monopolistic in building telecom arrangement at a public airport.

The issue is significant as travellers have been complaining about the lack of cellular connectivity at the Navi Mumbai airport, which began commercial operations on 25 December. The reason for no connectivity at the airport is the absence of an agreement between the airport and telecom operators. The two sides have not been able to agree on commercial terms for this.