Telecom companies ne Adani Group ke chalaye gaye Navi Mumbai International Airport ke khilaaf aarop uthaya hai ki airport operator ne unhe mobile network infrastructure lagane ke liye Right of Way (RoW) permissions nahi diye aur unhe exclusive in‑building telecom network arrangement use karne ko majboor kiya. Telcos ka kehna hai ki isse competition aur customer choice ko nuksan ho raha hai.
Telcos ka Point of View:
Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI), jo Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio aur Vodafone Idea jaise operators ka representative body hai, ne Department of Telecommunications (DoT) ko letter likhkar turant hastakshep ki demand ki. COAI ne kaha ki airport ne operators ko unka network khud deploy karne se mana kar diya aur unhe mandatorily airport dwara install kiya gaya in‑building system use karne ko kaha, uske liye bhi bhari charges lagaye gaye hain, jo unreasonable hain.
COAI ne yeh bhi kaha ki airport operator ne apne aap ko “neutral host” ke roop me present karke exclusive RoW rights apne paas rakh liye hain, jo Telecom Act aur Right of Way Rules ke tehat allowed nahi hai. Is exclusivity se competition khatam ho jata hai aur licensed mobile operators ko ek hi entity ke through operate karna padta hai, jo consumer choice ko bhi affect karta hai.
Airport Operator ka Jawab:
Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL) ne kaha hai ki unhone kisi telco ko Right of Way deny nahi kiya hai aur wo individual discussions ke liye hamesha ready hain. Airport ne bataya ki in‑building network solutions security aur operational reasons ke liye install kiye gaye hain taki connectivity uninterrupted ho — especially baggage belts, utility zones aur air traffic areas mein. NMIAL ne yeh bhi kaha ki woh rate cartelisation ko accept nahi karenge aur individual operators se mutual rate agreements ki baat kar rahe hain.
Public Reaction:
Is controversy par political reaction bhi aaya hai. Shiv Sena‑UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi ne social media par likha ki aise practices “profit mafia” jaisa business behaviour dikhate hain aur public infrastructure me passenger convenience aur competition ko ensure karna zaroori hai.
Ye dispute tab ubharka hai jab Navi Mumbai International Airport ne 25 December 2025 se commercial operations shuru kiye, aur passengers ne airport ke andar mobile connectivity me issues ki complaints social media par share ki hain.
Telecom companies ne Adani Group ke under operate ho rahe Navi Mumbai International Airport par aarop lagaya hai ki airport management ne unhe mobile network infrastructure lagane ki permission (Right of Way) nahi di. Telcos ka kehna hai ki unhe ek exclusive in-building network system use karne ke liye force kiya ja raha hai, jis se competition aur consumer choice par asar pad raha hai.
Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI), jo Airtel, Jio aur Vodafone Idea jaise telcos ko represent karta hai, ne is mudde par Department of Telecommunications (DoT) ko letter likhkar intervention ki demand ki hai. COAI ka kehna hai ki airport dwara lagaye gaye high charges aur exclusive arrangements Telecom Act aur RoW rules ke against hain.
Airport operator Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL) ne in aaropon ko deny kiya hai. Airport ka kehna hai ki kisi bhi telco ko Right of Way deny nahi kiya gaya hai aur in-building network security aur operational reasons ki wajah se lagaya gaya hai. NMIAL ne kaha ki wo individual operators ke saath baat-cheet ke liye open hain.
Yeh issue tab saamne aaya jab airport par passengers ne mobile connectivity problems ko lekar complaints share karni shuru ki. Industry experts ka maanna hai ki agar exclusivity continue rahi, to competition aur service quality dono par impact pad sakta hai.