COAI writes to DoT, demands tough norms for captive private networks

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has demanded imposition of tough conditions for allowing enterprises to set up “captive non-public networks”.

The move comes just a few days after the Cabinet, despite opposition from telcos, permitted enterprises to set up private networks, with the department of telecom (DoT) assigning them spectrum directly.

In a letter to DoT secretary K Rajaraman on June 18, the COAI demanded non-assignment of spectrum in the non-International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) (5G) bands reserved for telcos.

It also made a demand for restricting the scope of such private networks for only machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and plant automation within the premises of a plant.