In a bizarre incident, the COAI, a lobby group of GSM players, has barred three operators -- Tatas, Loop Telecom and Etisalat -- from exercising franchise in the group as these operators had not paid their "disputed" dues, a development that could convert the association into a battlefield.
Reacting sharply to a reported decision by COAI to take away the voting rights, Tata Teleservices (TTSL) said that it had paid all its dues, though there were some disputed amounts.
However, the voting power was concentrated in the hands of three big operators --- Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea -- and the other eight to ten members were virtually insignificant, TTSL feels.
But COAI Secretary General Rajan Mathew sought to deflect the issue, saying, "It is our internal matter and is not for public discourse. So I will not comment." He was responding to queries about the decision taken by the COAI Executive Committee at its last meeting and the stand taken by the Tatas and other operators on the matter.
"TTSL would like to reiterate that it has paid all membership, subscription and relevant dues to the COAI. We have only declined to share legal expenses in respect of cases filed by COAI against TTSL itself, or where TTSL has refused to become a party to the case."
Two other small operators whose voting rights have been taken away are Loop Telecom and Etisalat.
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Loop Telecom also has a similar view that only some disputed amount was pending. Etisalat could not be contacted.
TTSL further said that "as things stand in COAI today, the voting power is concentrated in the hands of the three older members (Bharti, Vodafone and Idea) and even if the remaining 8-10 members oppose any resolution, they just don't have the voting rights to defeat it".
Sources in the know said that the development comes at a time when the COAI is in the process of taking a stand on various important matters, especially relating to Trai's recent report on spectrum management.
"The voting power, based as it is on the turnover of GSM service providers, leaves the new 8-10 members quite helpless," TTSL said.
Asked about the total legal expenses of the COAI in the last two years, officials declined to share details.