The Hindu Business Line : Cell players' suggestions on rural coverage

CELLULAR operators have mooted creation of common infrastructure for offering mobile services in rural areas. The operators have also urged the Government to set up independent infrastructure companies from whom the mobile operators can lease out capacity on an annual rental basis.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has communicated to the Government that the fee for sharing the infrastructure could be decided by the telecom regulator.

Cellular operators have also sought relaxation in spectrum charges, licence fee, interconnection charges and other levies for providing rural connectivity.

The COAI has suggested that any shortfall in revenues can be supported from the universal services obligation (USO) fund.

They said that the Government should invite bids from operators who want to set up the common infrastructure but if the Government reimburses the entire capital cost of the infrastructure from the USO fund, then the network would be owned by the Government and not exclusive to any single operator.

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