Vodafone global CEO, Vittorio Colao has raised voice against the Trai's new predatory pricing order saying that it favours and benefits Reliance Jio the most. Speaking with reporters at the Mobile World Congress, Colao said that the company would legally challenge the Indian telecom regulator on the new predatory pricing order. “Yes, it does (favour RJio). Yes, we will do (challenge it in court),” when asked about the recent order from Trai. Vittorio Colao addressed media in a roundtable conference at the ongoing MWC event in Barcelona.
He also said that the regulatory scenario in India is 'too complicated,' which is leading very slow decision making. However, Colao confirmed that his Vodafone India unit would aggressively compete in the country through the merger with Idea Cellular.
“We believe Trai’s predatory pricing regulation favours Jio and it should be legally challenged,” Vodafone’s top executive said. “We want fair competition. We are not in agreement with that Trai regulation,” as reported by Economic Times.
Speaking on the merger with Idea Cellular, Colao added “I am very excited about Vodafone and Idea going together…We will continue to compete, no matter what regulations are there. We are creating the Number One operator in the country, let’s call it the similar size of Airtel, and it will be a fair fight between us, Airtel and RJio. That side of the business equation is very promising.”
He also added that India used to be one of the biggest markets for data pricing in the globe, but things got changed with Reliance Jio's entry. “India is a market where we have got 80% collapse in data pricing. A market where there has been an extraordinary launch from a new competitor, who for months has given for free and at a fairly low price to new customers. Of course, we reacted. But, out of the blue, magically, a law or regulation comes,” Colao told reporters at the mega tech show.
Furthermore, Vodafone and Nokia will be announcing a partnership today at the event. There might be some 5G network association between the telecom operator and the telecom gear maker.
