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Rentals prove WLL not `cheap' option: COAI

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, May. 20

THE Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) has renewed its fight against `limited mobility,' following the recent order of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which has fixed the monthly rentals for the service at between Rs 450 an d Rs 550.

According to Mr T.V. Ramachandran, Director-General, COAI, the ``high'' rentals prescribed by the authority belies the general public's expectations of a vastly more affordable mobile service. ``It provides a stunning confirmation of its repeated submiss ion that WLL CDMA mobile technology is neither cheaper nor new as has been claimed,'' he said.

The high monthly rentals fixed by TRAI completely demolishes the arguments of fixed operators and other votaries of WLL mobility who had so heavily advocated the service on the plank of affordability, he noted.

Mr Ramachandran emphasised that the specified entry costs and the monthly rentals were amongst the highest of any telecommunications service in the country. Rentals for conventional fixed telephones are Rs 250 per month or less and those for cellular mob ile telephones Rs 422 or less.

It is farcical to expect that such an expensive service will play any significant role whatsoever in increasing teledensity, especially amongst the less affluent or semi-urban or rural population, he said.