India, May 19 -- The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has rejected what it calls "baseless allegations" that mobile operators are obstructing in-train coverage on the Mumbai Metro. In a statement, the industry body set out its members' position and accused the metro operator of fostering a monopoly that makes the provision of normal in-building solutions (IBS) prohibitively expensive.

According to Lt Gen Dr S P Kochhar, Director General, COAI , telecom service providers (TSPs) have "always been willing" to install and fund IBS equipment inside the metro system. However, Mumbai Metro has appointed a single third-party vendor and is "now trying to extract monopolistic and extortionate rents" for allowing access to its infrast...