Telecom operators oppose fresh Mumbai Metro connectivity tender, offer to buy existing infrastructure

Mumbai: Telecom operators have opposed the fresh in-building solution (IBS) tender floated by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, while offering to purchase the existing infrastructure created by the earlier vendor ACES to ensure faster rollout of mobile connectivity across Metro stations.In a joint communication to MMRCL's managing director Ashwini Bhide on March 23, 2016, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have flagged the steep reserve price of around Rs 1,000 per sq ft under the new tender—even for non-usable areas—as the biggest hurdle. They termed the pricing "exorbitant" and not aligned with the principle of "just compensation", warning it could delay telecom deployment. The operators have also made it clear that no telecom company will issue comfort letters to any IBS vendor under the current terms, effectively stalling participation unless the pricing framework is rationalised. The opposition comes in the backdrop of MMRCL terminating its earlier IBS contract with ACES and floating a fresh tender on March 20. In a significant suggestion, the telecom firms have indicated their willingness to acquire the already installed ACES infrastructure, instead of rebuilding networks from scratch, to avoid delays and duplication of costs.The companies have backed a shared network model, with Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd already seeking Right-of-Way (RoW) permissions to deploy telecom infrastructure across the Metro network. Other telecom service providers have extended support to this proposal in the interest of seamless connectivity.The letter highlights that there is currently no operational telecom network inside Metro premises and stresses that reliable connectivity is critical for passenger safety, emergency communication and operational efficiency, particularly on underground stretches.With Mumbai's underground Metro corridor nearing operational readiness, the pricing dispute and uncertainty following the ACES contract termination could delay a key commuter service—uninterrupted mobile connectivity inside stations and tunnels.