Telecom industry in talks with states, local authorities for opening up recharge outlets

New Delhi: The telecom industry is in discussions with district and local authorities across states for opening up prepaid recharge centres following the recent orders by the Home Ministry, and hopes that these outlets will start opening in a day or so. The Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) has also written to various states, urging 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.

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