NEW DELHI, November 5: The Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), the combined forum for the cellular industry, has today appealed to the Telecom regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to intervene on the proposed entry of the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) in the field of cellular services in Delhi and Mumbai. This has revealed cracks within the itself COAI as the it has been forced to submit only a single letter to the TRAI instead of a formal petition.

The COAI feels MTNL's entry into the cellular services field without paying licence fee was a violation of the basic premise of a "level playing field" that was promised to private players. It has sought the TRAI's intervention on this count. According to sources within the COAI, for the association to lodge a petition with the TRAI, technically they would have to have the sanction of the Executive Council of the COAI. It has, however, not been able to get this as only four of the fourteen operators -- two each in Delhi and Mumbai -- are affected by MTNL's plans. The others, however, are not going to be affected as MTNL is not planning cellular services in their circles. Hence, they do not wish to petition the TRAI.

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