Telcos war: COAI hopes industry’s IUC discussion will be reasonable, objective

NEW DELHI: With regulator’s review on call connect charges polarising telcos, industry body COAI has conceded that the issue has always been a contentious one, even globally, and hoped that players will engage in reasonable and rational discussions by looking at the situation “objectively”. The Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) said different players may take varied position based on their operational, strategic and commercial interests and asserted that majority and minority views are part and parcel of working of any institution or industry body.

The comments assume significance as the industry has erupted into a war of words over the last few days, with the IUC issue back on the regulator’s radar.

COAI Director General Rajan Mathews told that the association’s governance structure dictates that the position taken by it is commensurate with the majority view of its membership (since it represents majority of telecom subscribers too) while ensuring that “minority view does not get brushed under the carpet”.