Jio made back-door entry to telecom market: COAI

COAITelecom industry body COAI today said Reliance Jio Infocomm has made the back-door entry to the Indian telecom market.

COAI has also created two new words — BDO and IDO – for the Indian telecom industry. BDO means back-door operator, while IDO means incumbent dominant operator.

COAI, which received a letter from the Mukesh Ambani-promoted 4G operator, said matters in the latter are private, internal matters of the Association and hence will be dealt with internally among its members.

Reliance Jio is a member of COAI. Other members are Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, Vodafone, among others.

ALSO READ: Jio charges COAI with bias, wants charter overhauled

COAI believes there are many misrepresentations, misinterpretations of law and fact, as well as characterisations with which it vehemently disagrees. These will be suitably responded to after careful review and deliberation amongst members.

Reliance Jio is labelling the established and well performing operators who have served the cause of digital India for long years as Incumbent Dominant operators (IDO). This is slanderous, mischievous and suggests that the existing leading members are a cohort bent upon blocking entry of new operators on the basis of bald allegations.

None of the half a dozen new operators who have entered in the last five years have ever accused COAI or in fact labeled the leading operators as IDO’s. Despite repeated and grave provocations from Reliance Jio, COAI wishes to state that Reliance Jio which entered the sector as a Back Door Operator (BDO) was welcomed by COAI as a full member.

Reliance Jio was never an applicant for a UASL or UL license but bought a BWA through a front entity and then had it converted to a full blown UASL license despite strong objection from certain quarters including the CAG. Despite this, COAI welcomed Reliance Jio into the association and congratulated the new entrant on its launch.

COAI also wishes to point out that Reliance Jio was presented with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association, pursuant to their application for membership and was well aware of the governance structure and practices of the Association. No issues were raised at this time and they agreed to abide by these rules and regulations.

It is surprising that Reliance Jio now raises certain issues as something new. These are motivated by a desire to tarnish the reputation and credibility of COAI in the light of certain representations made by COAI to various government agencies.

COAI also wishes to state that any representation made is done after following all due processes of the association and with transparency on whether any member operator agrees or disagrees with the COAI position.

COAI members will review the letter submitted by Reliance Jio and do what they believe is in the best interest of the country, the customers and the Association.