Signal Showdown: Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea Make Joint Bid for Direct Control of Airport Connectivity

India's telco giants-Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea-are together bidding to revolutionize digital connectivity at key airports by pressing the authorities to allow them to directly install in-building telecom solutions instead of depending on third-party vendors. Their joint move aims at key airports such as Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, and the upcoming Noida International Airport.

 

Key Highlights:

 

The telcos officially asked airport authorities to provide them with permission to roll out common In-Building Solutions (IBS) for uninterrupted mobile and data connectivity across airport terminals, underlining the fact that only licensed telecom service providers (TSPs) that own valid spectrum rights are legally entitled to install and run such equipment.

 

They contend that having third-party vendors act as intermediaries will lead to "bottlenecks," monopolistic tendencies, and excessive charges, eventually hurting consumers as well as operators. Telcos refer to prevailing regulations such as the Telecommunications Act 2023 and Right of Way (RoW) Rules, which require public authorities to facilitate direct access to TSPs for public place network installations.

 

The three operators have proposed to undertake joint surveys and deploy a common IBS network, with efficient deployment, low disruption, and high-quality connectivity for passengers, airport personnel, and operations.

 

This initiative comes after similar objections by the telcos against third-party models in Mumbai Metro, where high rental rates and regulatory issues were pointed out.

 

The telcos reiterate that they will be willing to absorb the cost of infrastructure, and see stable airport connectivity as a public good, not a revenue source.

 

Should this be approved, this act could become the new benchmark for telecom access within India's public places, guaranteeing more hassle-free travel experience for millions of people.

 

Source: Business Standard, The Print, Moneycontrol