07/18COAI MATTERS

Vol. 1, Issue 1

Page 4Data privacy shouldn’t be a concern to just companies and organisations; rather, individuals should be con-cerned with data privacy just as much, if not more. - Editors Note

Net Neutrality Concerns - Page 12

India Mobile Congress 2018 - Page 16

All India Subscriber Figures - Page 22

Page 8

COAI MattersVolume 1, Issue 1July 2018

Editor: Rajan S. MathewsDG, COAI

Contents

04

06

16

22

28

30

Editor’s Note

COAI Statements

All India Subscriber Figures Analysis

About COAI

Announcements

The hyper-competition and the deteriorating financial health of the telecom industry has led to approximately 40,000 job losses since 2016.

India Mobile Congress 2018

3COAI Matters

Editor’s Note Privacy of data is not a new construct. People used to lock their filing cabinets and pay a premium for the safety of deposit boxes at banks long before they could bring it online. Now that most of our data has been digitised, the idea of securing the digitized data has also become a matter of urgency. This is where the concept of ‘data privacy’ or ‘information privacy’ comes in. A single mid-size to large-size company may possess the personal information of millions of people that it will need to keep private to ensure that the identity of their customers and employees stay safe while also ensuring the reputation of the company also stays untarnished. However, data privacy shouldn’t be a concern to only companies and organisations; rather, individuals should be concerned with data privacy just as much, if not more, as it is they who have the most to lose and it is they who can protect themselves from risks. And informing oneself regarding data privacy and what its protection entails can go a long way in ascertaining the security of one’s personal data.

Importance of Data Privacy

Any kind of data in the wrong hands is a dangerous proposition. When the data is sensitive, the levels of danger increase manifold. For example, a data breach at a government think tank could put information of national importance in the hands of the enemies of the state. Similarly, a data breach at a corporation level could put valuable information in the hands of a competitor, causing massive losses. A breach at a healthcare organisation could lead to the dissemination and misuse of personal information of vulnerable healthcare consumers.

Ever since the Cambridge Analytica scandal shook the online audiences across the globe, Right to Privacy and Data Protection has been a topic of debate in most industry boardrooms, government offices and around coffee tables alike. The scandal brought to light the ways in which personal data can be mined and used for purposes other than the ones consented by the end user. And with the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming into effect on May 25, 2018, it has

Data privacy shouldn’t be a concern to just companies and organisations; rather, individuals should be concerned with data privacy just as much, if not more, as it is they who have the most to lose and it is they who can protect themselves from risks.

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raised question regarding the very makeup of the Internet.

With the GDPR coming into force, the EU subjects will require GDPR compliance. The main purpose of the legislation is to ensure that the privacy and personal data of every individual, within the jurisdiction of EU, is protected. It regulates the manner in which several entities, including the governments, collect and process an individual’s data through automated means. In order to remove the ambiguity around the definition of personal data, the GDPR broadly defines it as - “Any information related to a person that can be used to identify them, including their name, photo, email address, IP address, bank details, posts on a social networking site, medical information, biometric data and sexual orientation.” Data is now driving the world!

The contemporary Indian and world-wide market is witnessing an explosion of connected devices with artificial intelligence (AI) being the nucleus. Data protection is now no longer a matter of choice but a subject of serious concern.

An exponential growth in connectivity in the virtual world is posing a greater threat in the real world as the virtual footprints and data are becoming vulnerable. India has the second highest number of internet users with the user base of 391 million and counting. The primary link between the population and internet is mobile phones. From connecting

with the society at large to conducting transactions, our mobile phones have become our universe in itself. This portability feature alones makes security and privacy a real concern. Pan-India compliance around data and its protection will be one such achievement, which will prove to be stupendous in the scope of its consequences.

The Expert Committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) Mr. B. N. Srikrishna, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India has submitted its report on the Data Protection Framework for India on July 27, 2018. The Committee has recommended for a sui generis legislation for ensuring right to privacy and data protection in India, and has submitted a draft bill of the proposed legislation.The law will not have retrospective application and it will come into force in a structured and phased manner. The definition of personal data will be based on identifiability.

The proposed law will have jurisdiction over the processing of personal data if such data has been used, shared, disclosed, collected or otherwise processed in India. However, in respect of processing by fiduciaries that are not present in India, the law shall apply to those carrying on business in India or other activities such as profiling which could cause privacy harms to data principals in India. Additionally, personal data collected, used, shared, disclosed or otherwise processed by companies

incorporated under Indian law will be covered, irrespective of where it is actually processed in India.

Consent will be a lawful basis for processing of personal data. For consent to be valid it should be free, informed, specific, clear and capable of being withdrawn. For sensitive personal data, consent will have to be explicit. All processing of personal data by data fiduciaries must be fair and reasonable.

The data protection law will set up a Data Protection Authority (DPA) which will be an independent regulatory body responsible for the enforcement and effective implementation of the law. The DPA shall perform the following primary functions: (i) monitoring and enforcement; (ii) legal affairs, policy and standard setting; (iii) research and awareness; (iv) inquiry, grievance handling and adjudication.

The need of the hour is to enforce regulations and legislations, which can bridge the information gap between the data users and data controllers. The widening gap between technology and the law can only be narrowed when review mechanisms are in place, where the controllers are held accountable yet they are encouraged to innovate appropriate practices for privacy. Over-regulation is never a solution but self-regulation is. It is imperative to remain abreast of our surroundings or else a chilling effect on both technology and privacy can be the outcome.

5COAI Matters

6 COAI Matters

COAI Statements

~ Rajan S. MathewsDG, COAI

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Job Lossesin the Telecom Sector

The last couple of years have been challenging for the industry with a price war leading to rock bottom Tariffs, which in turn, resulted in plummeting revenues and profits. The hyper competition and the deteriorating financial health of the telecom industry has led to approximately 40,000 job losses since 2016. During this period, almost all the telecom operators suffered heavy losses and the collected revenue declined significantly. However, with the implementation of the proposals put forth in the NDCP 2018, we are hopeful that the sector can be nursed back to better financial health, leading to increased hiring and employment opportunities. The remaining telecom service providers (TSPs) in the country are actively looking at exploring new opportunities in the realm of ‘technologies of the future’, such as IoT and M2M. This is expected to instigate new channels of revenue and reinvigorate the sector. The Government, along with the TSPs and other stakeholders, is also aggressively working towards early implementation and

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adoption of 5G. The Department of Telecom (DoT) has already formed a high-level 5G forum to expedite the development of the 5G ecosystem and the launch of 5G services in India. With these initiatives in the pipeline, we expect the industry to recoup the job losses over the next two to three years in addition to creating new jobs. For example, Reliance Jio has already started hiring for its artificial intelligence (AI) team in Bengaluru and it is also looking to hire for machine learning and blockchain. At the same time, Airtel is also looking to hire fresh talent for their new innovation lab in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Vodafone had already launched the Super IoT platform in India. We expect that Voda-Idea entity will hire fresh talent and may also retrain & reskill their existing employees for such new initiatives. This is a clear indication that while the financial stress has hampered the industry is more ways than one, all the operators are looking forward and findings new ways to create revenue and jobs.

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Telecom operators always ensure the privacy of their subscribers and compliance with the requirements issued by the DoT. The DoT’s circular dated 12th June 2018 is based on UIDAI instructions which is another step to ensure the customers’ privacy. Telcos are making best efforts to make the necessary updates in their IT systems to implement the suggested changes by July 1, 2018. As per the new Circular, the subscribers can choose to either provide Aadhaar number for verification or generate a Virtual ID for the same, in return UIDAI will provide a unique UID Token to the TSPs. The Aadhaar number of the subscribers will not be saved in either of the cases with the TSPs. We believe that this step will provide convenience and confidence to the subscribers to get an authentic verification conducted without having the fear of giving their Aadhaar number.

Implementation of Virtual ID

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DoT’s Notice on Internet Telephony

“DoT has accepted TRAI recommendations on Internet Telephony and has provided clarification that the internet telephony service is un-tethered from the underlying access network. COAI had made representations to DoT on TRAI recommendations that Internet Telephony service should not be un-tethered and should only be allowed under Access Service License wherein the licensee has its own network/internet service. The Aimpact of this would be different for different consumers and operators, and consumers and operators would need to assess the impact of this individually.”

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BBMP’s drive forcutting the OFCs in Bengaluru

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palika (BBMP) has been engaged in cutting the optical fibre cables laid by the telecom operators in various areas of Bengaluru.

The industy is disheartened by the sudden and unwarranted action by the BBMP to remove the OFC cables which is leading to huge outages and inconvenience to the subscribers in densly populated areas and the Industry.

We would like to highlight that all our members are fully complaint with the rules and regulations of the concerned authorities. Irrespective of that, the cables have been removed and at least 700 mobile towers have been affected in around seven zones in Bengaluru. BBMP has been insisting on payments beyond what was agreed between the concerned parties in the MOU, dated 28.03.2014.

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The industry has been trying to resolve the issue but the BBMP has frequently been involved in cutting the cables and disrupting the service rather than framing rules to regularise them. This is a setback to Prime Minister’s Digital India push and we hope that it doesn’t hamper the progress of the ambitious project. We are afraid that this type of activity will negate the honourable PM’s vision of a digital and connected India and that companies that rely on such fibre connectivity, which Bengaluru relies so much on, will begin to look at alternatives (cities and states), which have a more progressive approach. We believe that, in consumer interest, the Government authorities and relevant stakeholders should deliberate with the service providers to come to a solution as soon as possible. The TSPs are keen and willing to fully co-operate with the concerned authorities and government departments/agencies to regularise the cable laying process. The industry is open to dialogue and resolution immediately.

13COAI Matters

On 11 July 2018, the Telecom Commission, the highest decision-making body in the telecom sector, approved the National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP) 2018 and the Net Neutrality recommendations by TRAI. COAI welcomes the approval of the NDCP 2018, as it is a forward-looking policy that promises to usher India into a new era of digital communications, thereby making the Prime Minister’s Digital India dream a reality. The new telecom policy with the aim of creating new jobs and inviting investments worth $100 billion by 2022 now awaits the final approval from the cabinet. Where the Net Neutrality recommendations are concerned, we have already expressed our support on issues pertaining to non-discriminatory use of the Internet, including no blocking, no throttling and adoption of same service-same rules. That said, we reiterate our earlier position that a light touch

Regulatory approach should be adopted so that innovation is not hampered by the Net Neutrality rules.

Many of the 5G applications will have stringent data communication requirements, such as high reliability or minimal delay which require traffic management techniques. We have urged the Government to review industry practices with respect to traffic prioritisation to foster 5G-enabled applications and eco-system in India. Now that the commission has approved the recommendations, which are before the Cabinet for approval, we hope that the Cabinet will consider the concerns raised by the industry so that the Net Neutrality rules that are adopted in India benefit the consumers, incentivise innovation and adoption of new technologies, and enable the seamless spread of state of the art networks and service.”

Telecom Commission’s meeting held on 11th July 2018

Net Neutrality

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COAI concerns regarding Net Neutrality regulations

A note by the Strand Consult has noted that EC President Juncker’s office confirmed that BEREC agreement with Indian telecom regulator could violate EU law.

The note has highlighted the following:

1. Net Neutrality is detrimental to the launch of 5G. It’s no coincidence that the countries leading on 5G--the China, South Korea, Japan and the US—have either avoided or removed heavy-handed net neutrality laws.

2. TRAI never made an empirical assessment of the Net Neutrality laws before implementing its ban.

3. From 2009-2014, India’s rate of internet adoption (year-over-year growth) averaged 38 percent, but after 2015, it plummeted to 13.6 percent in the most recent measure. Only 1 in 3 Indians is online today, a ratio that hasn’t budged since the policy took effect. Had adoption remained at its previous rate, there could be as many as 400 million more Indian internet users today, almost

doubling the number of people online in just 4 years.

4. Had India not discriminated in favor of a single form of access, it could have improved its GDP by as much as $125 billion today.

COAI heartily supports the concepts of “non-discrimination” and “equal access” relating to the Internet. However, in a heavily licensed and regulated environment, such as India, the importance of maintaining a level playing field among service providers is critical. Hence, its emphasis on, “same service, same rules”!

COAI is concerned that the stringent net neutrality laws might be hampering national interests especially around the introduction of 5G and related innovations in providing network services. Heavy handed laws have never been good for business and it is an imperative that the DoT looks into the stated facts and reconsider its view towards aspects of the restrictive regulations.

Net Neutrality

15COAI Matters

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India Mobile Congress 2018

#IMC2018

www.IndiaMobileCongress.com

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Invited Speakers

With its theme of “New Digital Horizons Connect. Create. Innovate”, India Mobile Congress 2018 will bring together over 200,000+ visitors, 100+ Global Speakers, 2500 Delegates, 300+ Exhibitors, 1,000+ International Media on one of the most premier technology platforms at Aerocity, New Delhi, on October 25 -27, 2018.

The key focus areas at IMC 2018, will be Networks of the Future, Technology Shaping our Lives – the Human World 2.0, Enhancing the Consumer Experience – Emerging Trends and, Startups – Connecting, Creating and Innovating.

As South Asia’s largest digital forum, the major objectives of IMC include promoting skilling, local manufacturing & entrepreneurship, attracting investments, driving Policy and Regulatory dialogue, supporting technology exports, encouraging R&D efforts in the ICT & TMT sector and enhance digital cooperation not just across the South Asian region but across the world.

With a strong presence of 3000+ CXO level delegates, IMC 2018 will be an excellent platform for participants from across the Digital World to network and explore new business avenues. From global leaders in the ICT & TMT sectors to Senior Government officials, Regulators, Policy Makers, Academicians and Ambassadors, will

be an integral part of this one of its kind gathering. Last year, IMC established itself as a prolific forum for Internet companies, Service Providers, Infra/OEMs, Software IT/ITES, IoT, Automotive, Handset, Network Storage, Integration & Security, Test & Measurement, Middleware, VAS players, and other stakeholders.

This year, with an unparalleled focus on promoting future technologies and catalyzing innovation, IMC intends to introduce experiential technology zones, live demos and insightful discussions on topics such as IoT, 5G, Big Data, AR/VR, AI, Robotics, Smart Cities Solutions, Fintech, HealthTech, Autonomous Cars, Cyber Security, AgriTech, Open Source Technology, amongst others.

The Grand Inauguration of IMC is becoming the one must-attend event on all telecom and ICT calendars. This year the IMC stage will be graced by the presence of industry doyens such as Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Mr. Mukesh Ambani and Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla. The key highlight this year is expected to be inauguration of IMC by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India along with the Minister for Communications and other dignitaries from the Government.

IMC 2018 is also gearing up to play host to the Telecom and IT Ministerial Delegations from 15 ASEAN and

India Mobile Congress

IMC 2018 – A Brief Preview

200,000professionals from

the telecom and ICT industries

2500delegates

1000mobile apps to be

launched

IMC 2018 is gearing up to play host to the Telecom and IT Ministerial delegations from 15 ASEAN and BIMSTEC nations from the South Asian and South East Asian nations.

Expectations

18 COAI Matters

BIMSTEC nations from the South Asian and South East Asian nations. These key policy makers will converge at the Special International Ministerial Conclave at IMC 2018 to deliberate upon the regulatory frameworks and future policy roadmap in a dynamic digital technology environment.

The Global CEOs Conclave at IMC 2018 will see a sea of global digital leaders come together to discuss key topics such as Everything As a Service, Networks of the Future, 5G – Is the future finally here? And the Power of Content. Each session will see an engaging dialogue between the Global CEOs from Service Provider Companies, OEMs, Internet Companies and Content Players.

A special plenary session on the 5G Vision 2020, driven by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, will bring together global leaders in 5G network standards, products and solutions to discuss the use cases and opportunities presented by 5G technologies.

To drive the next wave of innovative digital products and services, the IMC 2018 platform will be the Launchpad for 1000 Made for India Apps. There will be a plethora of focused opportunities for entrepreneurs

and innovators to network and interact with Senior executives from ICT & TMT companies, potential investors, mentors to explore new business prospects.

With partner countries like USA, United Kingdom, Japan, Israel, South Korea, France, Canada, Sweden, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, Finland, European Union, etc., IMC 2018 will see a growing international presence in order to bring the best Digital Solutions from across the globe to Indian shores.

The acknowledgement accorded to the IMC latform by the Indian Government as an important homegrown forum for Digital Technology has been seen through the immense support from various Departments of the Government including the Ministry of Communications (MoC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MOSD&E), Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), all of whom will be a crucial part of IMC this year.

To experience all of this and much more, visit our website at www.indiamobilecongress.com and join us on this exciting digital journey.

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ASEAN & BIMSTEC Ministerial Conclave

The Digital VillageAn Exclusive area with experience zones, and a

showcase for TMT / ICT initiatives that have driven connectivity across the world, and impacted lives

Themes for the Online Challenge Empowerment /

Access to ServicesSmart Cities /

Smart Enterprises Networks of the FutureFinTech / Artificial Intelligence

Enhancing the User Experience

“We believe that the annual IMC event is fast emerging as a “must attend” for global leaders from the industry, the Government and academia. It is a great platform to highlight the innovation, investments and initiatives of companies, both in India and globally.”

ASEAN & BIMSTEC Ministerial Conclave

The Digital VillageAn Exclusive area with experience zones, and a

showcase for TMT / ICT initiatives that have driven connectivity across the world, and impacted lives

Themes for the Online ChallengeEmpowerment /

Access to ServicesSmart Cities /

Smart EnterprisesNetworks of the Future FinTech / Artificial Intelligence

Enhancing the User Experience

- Mr. Manoj Sinha

Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge)

for Communications and Minister of State for Railways

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The total number of mobile subscribers as of June 2018.

1) Rjio Figures are as of May 2018 (Source: TRAI).

4) We do not capture figures of BSNL, MTNL, Tata and RCom

5) The net additions highlighted in our Subscriber figure report of the month of June 2018 will be in variance to the actual net additions of the Industry.

Airtel leads the number of subscribers in the country. The figure includes Telenor subscribers.

Idea registered the highest subscriber additions over the previous month.

Highest Subs for the Circle - UP ( E )

993.43 million

Notes344.56 million

6.36 million

86.88 million

All India Subscriber Figures (June 18)

Number of Subscribers as of June 2018 (in Millions)

Number of Net Subscriber Additions in June 2018 (in Millions)

*Rjio data is as of May 2018

*Airtel additions includes all the Telenor subscribers

344.56

222.73 220.60205.54*

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Airtel

Vodafone

IDEA

Rjio

0.0107 0.28

6.37

-3.0

-1.0

1.0

3.0

5.0

7.0

Airtel Vodafone IDEA

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Group Company wise % market share (Subscribers) as of May 2018

Group Company wise % market share (Subscribers) as of June 2018

Industry Number of Subscribers as of June 2018 (in millions)

Airtel, 34.68%

Vodafone, 22.42%

IDEA, 22.21%

Rjio, 20.69%

Airtel, 35.25%

Vodafone, 22.76%

IDEA, 21.92%

Rjio, 20.07%

101.38

341.58

401.76

148.72

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

300.00

350.00

400.00

450.00

Metro A Circle B Circle C Circle

Industry Subscriber Figures in (millions)

Industry Circle-wise: Number of Subscribers as of June 2018 (in millions)

100.48

340.20399.00

147.00

986.68

101.38

341.58401.76

148.72

993.44

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Metro A Circle B Circle C Circle Total

May June

46.21

32.27

22.89

83.74

63.27 72.32

55.14

67.12

31.64 31.68

21.14

55.68

86.88

55.56 64.05

55.12

7.35

78.43

25.30 18.48

9.70 9.47

-

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

90.00

100.00

Delhi

Mum

bai

Kolkata

Maharashtra

Gujarat

A.P.

Karnatka

T.N.

Kerala

Punjab

Haryana

U.P.(W)

U.P.(E)

Rajasthan

M.P.

W.B. &

A & N

H.P.

Bihar

Orissa

Assam

N.E.

J & K

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Industry Circle-wise : Number of Subscriber Additions in June 2018 (in millions)

* This is combined additions in T.N & Chennai

Industry Circle-wise : % Growth over previous month

0.35 0.31 0.24

0.03

-0.51

0.35

0.710.79

0.430.28 0.24

-0.78

0.86

0.45

0.67 0.60

0.08

0.92

0.240.15 0.09 0.15

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

Delhi

Mum

bai

Kolkata

Maharashtra

Gujarat

A.P.

Karnatka

T.N.

Kerala

Punjab

Haryana

U.P.(W)

U.P.(E)

Rajasthan

M.P.

W.B. &

A & N

H.P.

Bihar

Orissa

Assam

N.E.

J & K

0.8%1.0%

1.1%

0.0% 0.0%

0.5%

1.3% 1.2%1.4%

0.9%

1.2%

-1.4%

1.0%0.8%

1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 1.2%1.0%

0.8% 0.9%

1.6%

-2.0%

-1.5%

-1.0%

-0.5%

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

Delhi

Mum

bai

Kolkata

Maharashtra

Gujarat

A.P.

Karnatka

T.N.

Kerala

Punjab

Haryana

U.P.(W)

U.P.(E)

Rajasthan

M.P.

W.B. &

A & N

H.P.

Bihar

Orissa

Assam

N.E.

J & K

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COAI welcomes ECI as an Associate Member

Announcements

We are happy to announce and welcome ECI as an associate member. ECI Telecom Ltd. is an Israel-based provider of telecommunications equipment that provides packet optical transport products, SDN/NFV applications, a cyber security solution and a range of professional services. ECI recently announced another network deal in India with Indian telecom operator Idea Cellular, in order to support demand for bandwidth and mobile data. This deal reiterates ECI’s leadership position in the market, serving 2 of the top 3 mobile operators in the country.

Further, ECI serves carriers and service providers across myriad sectors, including cable/multiple system operators, wireless/cellular service providers, utilities, carrier of carriers, data centers, and government and defense entities worldwide. The focus is on providing end-to-end solutions for multi-play services, business services, voice services, cellular backhaul, utelco and network security.

COAI’s efforts and ECI’s expertise in broadband networks will go a long way in fulfilling the Hon’ble Prime Minister Modi’s dream of building a digitally empowered nation. ECI will further benefit from the access to industry licensed operators and gain awareness of issues pertaining to the telecom industry.

COAI’s Associate Membership comprises of companies that provide applications, manufacture or support the functioning, promotion, research development and evolution of Mobile Communications Services. COAI’s other Associate Members include Accenture, ACT Fibernet, Amazon, Cisco, IBM, Indus Towers, Google India Pvt Ltd, Ericsson India Pvt Ltd, Sterlite Technologies, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, Indus Towers Ltd, Nokia Solutions & Networks Pvt Ltd, Qualcomm India Pvt Ltd, ZTE, Facebook India Online Services Pvt Ltd, Ciena India, etc.

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About ECI Telecom

ECI is a global provider of elastic network solutions to CSPs, critical infrastructures as well as data center operators. Along with its long-standing, industry-proven packet-optical transport, ECI offers a variety of SDN/NFV applications, end-to-end network management, a comprehensive cybersecurity solution, and a range of professional services.

ECI’s elastic solutions ensure open, future-proof, and secure communications. With ECI, customers have the luxury of choosing a network that can be tailor-made to their needs today while being flexible enough to evolve with the changing needs of tomorrow.

For more information visit

www.ecitele.com

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COAI was constituted in 1995 as a registered, non-governmental society. The Association is dedicated to the advancement of modern communication through the establishment of world-class mobile infrastructure, products and services and to delivering the benefits of innovative and affordable mobile communication services to the people of India.

About COAI

Industry Policy

COAI has emerged as the official voice of the Indian telecom industry that interacts directly with ministries, policy makers, regulators, financial institutions and technical bodies. It provides a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas between these bodies and the service providers, who share a common interest in the development of mobile telephony in the country.

Telecom Issues

COAI collaborates with other industry associations such as CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, GSMA, ISPAI, ICA, etc., with the objective of presenting an industry consensus to the Government on crucial issues related to the growth and development of the Indian telecom industry.

New Technologies

COAI is determined to encourage the confluence of technologies to facilitate the move towards complete convergence in communications as this could greatly help India mitigate the problems of low fixed line penetration and help realize country’s vision of becoming an Information Society.

Thought Leadeship

COAI aims to dispense information and spread awareness among the national and international entities and consumers on issues pertaining to service quality and other value-added services provided by the operators to their subscribers.

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Area of Work Key Focus

Policy Advocacy

Skills Development

Industry Issues

International Standards

Regulatory InputsCOAI has emerged as the official voice for the Indian telecom industry

Design and development of skills specific to the sector to boost employability & job creation

Provides a forum for discussion & exchange of ideas for its members.

Works with embassies and interacts with GSMA, ITU, APT, ITIC, etc. for promoting mutual understanding of sectoral issues.

Interacts directly with ministries, regulators, and financial institutions for enabling condusive regulations for the sector.

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Tel: +91 11 2334 9275 Fax: +91 11 2334 9276/77 Email: contact@coai.com

14, Bhai Veer Singh Marg, New Delhi - 110001

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