Airtel, COAI differ on impact of delays in refurbished 2G gear clearances

Kolkata: In a first, differences appear to have emerged between the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and its frontline telco member, Bharti Airtel, on the impact of delayed environment ministry clearances for a multitude of vendor applications — relating to import of refurbished telecom gear — on 2G services.
The COAI, in a letter dated November 11, has told the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that 2G services could face disruptions if the environment ministry does not quickly clear the huge backlog of vendor applications for import of critical spares and refurbished gear needed to maintain legacy mobile technology networks. It, has, in fact urged DoT to push the environment ministry to expedite clearances to vendor applications pending since July 2020.
Sunil Mittal-led Airtel, though, has totally denied any concerns around the telco’s 2G operations. A company spokesman told ET “there is no issue whatsoever with the running and maintaining of Airtel’s 2G networks that continue to serve millions of customers who are unable to afford 4G smartphones.”