The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has criticised Mumbai Metro Line 3 for rejecting a consumer-first proposal by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to ensure seamless mobile connectivity for underground commuters. In an official statement, COAI alleged that Mumbai Metro has created a monopoly by awarding connectivity rights exclusively to a third-party vendor, demanding what it termed as “monopolistic and extortionate rents” for mobile network access.
“TSPs have always been willing to provide connectivity through In-Building Solutions (IBS),” said Lt Gen Dr S.P. Kochhar, Director General of COAI. “However, in this case, Mumbai Metro is violating the spirit of the new Telecommunication Act and the Right of Way (RoW) Rules, which clearly state that public authorities cannot deny RoW access in public spaces.”To avoid delays and disruptions, TSPs had proposed a common network model at no cost, referencing examples such as the PWD tunnel at Pragati Maidan and the Central Vista project, where telecom infrastructure has been permitted without financial demands.
Despite this, their offer was overlooked.According to COAI, all major TSPs were offering services on a trial basis within Mumbai Metro 3 pending the finalisation of a formal agreement. In a joint letter dated 7 April 2025, TSPs had also proposed to provide mobile connectivity free of charge—without any payments to either the third-party vendor or the Metro authorities—until commercial terms could be agreed upon. This proposal, aimed at benefiting commuters, was reportedly ignored.
COAI emphasised that while TSPs are willing to invest capital to build the required infrastructure within the Metro system, the current demand for inflated fees makes the arrangement financially unviable. The industry is now working to address the broader issue of such monopolistic practices being replicated elsewhere.
Source: The Free Press Journal.
