Indian telecom operators — Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) — have jointly informed the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL) that they will be unable to provide In-Building Solutions (IBS) at the rates proposed by MMRCL's selected partner, ACES, citing commercial non-viability.
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Letter Sent to MMRCL
In a letter dated April 7, addressed to MMRCL Managing Director Ashwini Bhide, the operators reiterated that the proposed terms were not feasible, according to a PTI report. The matter pertains to the deployment of IBS infrastructure across the Mumbai Metro network, including underground stations and connecting tunnels, to ensure uninterrupted mobile connectivity for commuters.
Interim Solution Offered
To avoid inconvenience to metro users, the telecom companies have proposed an interim solution: to offer connectivity to the ACES IBS network by deploying their own equipment. They clarified that this arrangement would be offered on a free-of-cost basis, pending finalisation of commercial terms.
According to the report, this offer of connectivity is "purely on free of cost basis till the time there is an agreement on terms and conditions for providing connectivity of IBS network" to the selected partner, ACES.
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Connectivity Offer Conditional
"We would start payment for using IBS network with prospective effect only from the date of signing of agreement. In case this solution is acceptable to you to alleviate the problems of your customers, then kindly let us know so we can make the necessary interim arrangements till the time terms and conditions for using IBS network of ACES are finalised," the letter stated, as per the report.
The development places the onus on MMRCL to evaluate the interim proposal while continuing negotiations with the telecom providers and ACES for a long-term resolution.
