Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: India’s leading telecom operators—Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea—have informed Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) that they are unable to provide In-Building Solutions (IBS) at the unviable commercial terms proposed by MMRCL’s selected vendor, ACES India Pvt Ltd.
In a letter addressed to MMRCL’s Managing Director, the companies reiterated their stance from an earlier communication dated February 21, stating that while they remain committed to ensuring seamless telecom connectivity for Mumbai Metro commuters, they cannot agree to the current terms.
Interim Proposal for Free Connectivity
The telecom companies offered a temporary workaround, proposing to connect to the existing IBS network of ACES Free of Cost (FOC) until a formal agreement is signed.
“This offer of connectivity is purely on a Free of Cost basis till the time there is an agreement on terms and conditions… We would start payment for using the IBS network with prospective effect only from the date of signing of the agreement,” the letter read.
The operators urged MMRCL to consider this temporary solution to minimise service disruption for passengers while negotiations continue.
Call for Collaborative IBS Infrastructure
The letter reiterated the February proposal in which the three Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) agreed to jointly implement a state-of-the-art IBS infrastructure within the Mumbai Metro network, encompassing underground stations and tunnels.
The TSPs emphasized that the Mumbai Metro’s heavy daily ridership necessitates world-class telecom connectivity, which can best be achieved through a collaborative infrastructure model leveraging the resources and expertise of all three providers.
“By working together, we aim to establish a telecommunications infrastructure that not only meets current demand but is also scalable for future expansion,” the letter stated.