Sun Sep 15 13:54:01 UTC 2024: ## Telecom Giants Slam TRAI Over Public Wi-Fi Scheme, Citing Lack of Transparency and Unfair Practices

The Indian government’s public Wi-Fi initiative, PM-WANI, is facing significant opposition from major telecom operators, who accuse the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) of lacking transparency and imposing unfair conditions on the program.

Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea have all criticized a recent TRAI order that mandates telcos to offer broadband leased lines to program vendors at the same rates as retail customers. They argue that this regulation violates their fundamental rights as licensed service providers and could have detrimental consequences for the competitive telecom market.

“By forcing any telecom service providers (TSP) to provide the network inputs to another service providers at a regulated price, the proposal violates the fundamental rights of the licensed TSPs,” said Reliance Jio in a statement. Airtel echoed similar sentiments, stating that the amendment “will not only have unfortunate, unintended consequences in a competitive market where there is no market failure but also potentially upend the very basics of the regulatory structure.”

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) further questioned the lack of transparency in TRAI’s decision-making process, highlighting the absence of any public consultation on the viability of public data offices (PDO) in a market already saturated with affordable mobile broadband services.

COAI also pointed out that TRAI’s “hands-off approach” to telecom tariffs has historically encouraged competition and growth in the sector, making the need for public Wi-Fi hotspots negligible. Vodafone Idea echoed this sentiment, stating that there is no need for PDOs in a market where mobile broadband services are readily available at affordable rates.

Launched in 2020, the PM-WANI program aimed to accelerate broadband access through public Wi-Fi networks. However, the initiative has struggled to gain traction due to various challenges, including the recent controversy surrounding TRAI’s regulations. The telecom giants’ strong opposition suggests that the future of PM-WANI remains uncertain, with the program’s success hinging on addressing the concerns raised by the industry.

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