Telcos rush to increase recharge options under lockdown

MUMBAI : As the nation continues to stare at an extended Covid-19 lockdown, telecom operators are increasingly seeking out new ways to enable mobile recharges from requesting state governments to open retail recharge outlets to incentivising vendors. These measures have taken force after the operators extended incoming validity for millions of users.

In a renewed effort this week, Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI), representing private telcos, has written to various states. COAI has urged them to issue “requisite instructions in the state/UT to enable ‘mobile recharging retailers’ to open their outlets for offering telecom services to the public”, and also issue passes for movement of select staff who manage these outlets. COAI is stressed on the fact that MHA has now clarified that mobile recharging retailers for the prepaid mobile telephone connections is included as a public utility

“Further, to serve these outlets, passes should be issued to select employees/staff and distributors of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs),” COAI said in letters addressed to chief secretaries of states.