Travelers using the recently inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) are encountering significant difficulties with mobile network connectivity. Passengers across all major telecom providers, including Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea, are reporting weak or non-existent signals inside the terminal building.
The Core of the Dispute: Who Controls the Network?
The root cause of the connectivity blackout is a commercial and regulatory standoff between private telecom companies and the Adani Group-run airport authority. The issue revolves around who gets to install and operate the telecom infrastructure within the airport premises and the associated costs.
In a formal letter dated Tuesday, 30 December, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) escalated the matter to the Telecom Secretary. The industry body, representing major Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) like Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, Bharti Airtel Ltd, and Vodafone Idea Ltd, called for the Department of Telecommunications' (DoT) intervention.
The COAI argued that intervention is essential to uphold the statutory Right of Way (RoW) framework, maintain competitive fairness, and prevent passenger inconvenience. Right of Way rules dictate the permissions required for telecom providers to install and maintain their equipment on public and private properties.
Allegations from Telecom Operators
The telecom companies have accused Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL), a subsidiary of Adani Airports Holdings Ltd, of refusing them permission to deploy their own network infrastructure. This infrastructure is critical for delivering seamless 4G and 5G services inside the airport.
Instead, the airport operator is allegedly insisting that the telcos use a network already set up by NMIAL itself, demanding what the operators call "exorbitant charges" for its use. This model, they claim, compromises network quality and neutrality.
Airport's Counter-Statement
An NMIA spokesperson has contested these claims. The airport authority stated that it has not denied permission to the telecom service providers and that discussions are ongoing.
Contrary to the COAI's allegations, the spokesperson clarified that Right of Way has never been refused to any TSP at the airport. NMIA added that it has been in regular communication with the telecom firms and has offered them in-building solution (IBS) services at rates it claims are aligned with existing industry standards. According to the airport, the telecom companies are yet to respond to this offer.
Passengers Bear the Brunt on Social Media
The operational impact of this corporate deadlock is being felt acutely by passengers. Since the airport began commercial operations, numerous travelers have taken to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice their frustrations about the lack of reliable cellular connectivity over the past few days.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 October. It officially commenced its commercial operations on Christmas Day, 25 December, marked by the arrival of its first commercial flight. The ongoing network issue poses a significant challenge to passenger experience at this high-profile new gateway to the Mumbai metropolitan region.
