Question : Cellular Operators Association of India

(a) whether Government has received any complaint from Reliance Jio regarding the functioning of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)?

(b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereon;

(c) whether the COAI is functioning as per the rules of Societies Registration Act and competition law monitored by the Competition Commission of India;

(d) if not, the action taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) whether the COAI is reportedly functioning as a cartel in deciding voice and data calls rate and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the steps taken by the Government to protect the interest of customers?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) & (b) Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) is constituted as a registered non-governmental society with the stated objective of being the interface between the main stakeholders of the Indian Telecom Ecosystem. COAI’s core membership consists of private Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), namely - Bharti Airtel Limited, Vodafone Idea Limited and Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited. In addition to core members, COAI also has associate members.

COAI undertakes issues relating to operational, regulatory, financial or licensing aspects related to telecom sector. Difference of opinion among COAI members on issues including Point of Interconnection and Stress in Telecom sector has been brought to the notice of Department. All such matters are examined as per terms and conditions of the license agreement in consultation with stakeholders. However, the functioning of COAI is neither overseen by the Department nor does it intervene in disputes among COAI and its members.

(c) & (d) COAI has reported that it functions as per the rules of Societies Registration Act and does not indulge in any anti-competitive practices.

(e) Voice and Data call rates are decided by respective TSP and is subject to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regulations.