Telecoms Losing Rs.24.5 Million Every Hour Due to Government Suspension

After the countrywide protests against the CAA from three weeks; Indian mobile operators are losing around 24.5 million rupees in revenue every hour as they are forced to suspend internet services on government orders to control protests and avoid spreading of rumours.

Crux of the Matter

1. To control the protests the government ordered mobile data shutdowns as people used social media such as Instagram and TikTok to wage a parallel protest online.

2. Such internet suspensions have been heavily criticised by the netizens.

3. According to research by Ericsson, Indians consume an average of 9.8 GB of data per month on their smartphones which is the highest in the world.

4. Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said that Internet shutdowns should not be the first course of action.

5. COAI director general Rajan Mathews said, “According to our computation at the end of 2019, with the increase in online activities, we believe the cost of internet shutdowns is close to 24.5 million rupees for an hour of internet shutdown.”

6. The massive protests had resulted in the shutdown of internet and text messaging services in parts of Delhi, UP and a major clampdown in the northeast. Mobile internet was shut in at least 18 districts in Uttar Pradesh.

7. Internet services in Indian Kashmir were suspended for over 140 days since the abrogation of Article 370.

Curiopedia

The Cellular Operators Association of India is an industry association of mobile service providers, telecom equipment, internet services providers and other digital technologies’ companies and businesses in India. COAI was constituted in 1995 as a registered, non-governmental society. COAI has emerged as the official voice for the Indian telecom industry and interacts directly with Ministries, Policy Makers, Regulators, Financial Institutions and Technical Bodies. It provides a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas between these bodies and the Service Providers, who share a common interest in the development of mobile telephony in the country. More Info

Curated Coverage

1. Reuters – India’s internet shutdowns costing mobile carriers millions of rupees in lost revenue

2. India Today – Telecoms burnt in CAA, Article 370 fire; lose Rs 24.5 million per hour of internet shutdown

#Economy #Protests #Telecom