Mumbai Metro Line 3 Faces Network Blackout

“MMRCL has expressed its intent to discuss and come to a resolution, but telecom companies have refused to come around and agree to pay a reasonable cost for the infrastructure investment that has gone into it. It is their subscribers that are inconvenienced.”

“The rates that the third party is demanding account for three things – the physical infrastructure and installation, daily operation and maintenance costs, and the charges committed to MMRCL.”

“The gap is substantial, running to several millions of rupees.”

“Across the world, telecom operators do not pay recurring fees for providing mobile signals meant for public use. Telecom connectivity inside such large premises is increasingly treated as public digital infrastructure, an essential service and Right-of-Way obligation, not a revenue source. Hence, we believe firmly that this should be maintained here as well.”

“The rates being demanded by Mumbai Metro and their vendor were initially Rs 13 lakh per station, which they have now reduced to Rs 5.5 lakh per station. On the other hand, TSP’s internal working shows that Rs 39,000 per station per TSP per month will cover the required capex and a 10 per cent management fee.”

“First and foremost, Mumbai Metro should not see telecom connectivity as a source of revenue but as an essential utility required for the convenience and safety of passengers and staff of the Metro. Once that change in mindset comes, all the problems will be immediately resolved.”

“Telcos are paying comparable rates at other stabilised Metro lines and airports in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, etc, where the footfalls are high. Footfalls take some time to ramp up and steady in newly commissioned transport projects, hence the telcos are finding the rates quoted to be high given the relatively lower footfalls.”

“The mandate to ACES India Pvt Ltd to set up 5G-ready telecom infrastructure from the get-go along this unique, fully-underground, 33.5-km corridor meant a higher capex, resulting in higher charges to the TSPs. This has resulted in a stalemate with the telcos refusing to pay charges for lower footfalls and the transport corporation not wanting to let go of critical non-fare revenue for operational viability.”

“The bare minimum required from telecom operators we consumers pay for is a few bars of network so that calls can be made or received. In case of emergencies, I am completely cut off from my loved ones and vice-versa till I exit the station. As there are only a few telecom operators in the fray, it feels like we consumers have little in the way of choice and are taken for granted. I was sympathetic to the network issues in the beginning, but I now feel that if it isn’t resolved within a week or two, I will make the switch to Vi.”