Indian telco association pushes for ‘floor tariffs’ on data pricing

In an open letter to India’s telecoms regulator, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has pressed for quicker decision making on pricing restriction rules.

The COAI is in a very interesting position currently. As an association representing the telecoms industry, it is tasked with responsibilities to lobby government authorities for favourable rules. But the question is what are favourable rules?

The association has three core members; Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio. Two of these members would like more stringent rules on pricing to protect their interests from the disruptive pricing strategies of the third, Reliance Jio.

Jio entered the market at the end of 2015 with data plans to undermine the traditional telcos and free phone calls for new customers. Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea suffered because of it and have been calling for more stringent rules to prevent the disruptive Jio from causing even more chaos and continuing to erode profits.

This is a painful position for a telco-neutral association to be in, though it is in favour of floor pricing.

“We expected an early decision by the Authority, on having the Floor Tariffs for the Data services,” Rajan Mathews, Director General of the COAI said in the letter to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

“While, we acknowledge that the recent situation on account of COVID-19 might have caused some constraints, however the Authority has started conducting the OHD through online process on various other topics. Accordingly, we request the Authority to kindly hold an OHD on this issue at the earliest.

“The industry is looking forward to an early conclusion on this important matter with great interest and we therefore request the Authority for an early decision on the same.”

The longer this consultation from the TRAI continues, uncertainty prevails. Uncertainty is the enemy of progress and investment in the telecoms industry. A speedy decision would be the biggest net gain for the industry, though it is questionable whether anything can be done quickly in the telecoms industry.

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