All 3 Telcos Must Share Networks To Ensure India Stays Connected: Sunil Mittal

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold, Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal has called upon all three private players, viz. Vodafone Idea, Reliance Jio and BSNL and MTNL to work together and share networks so as to ensure that the nation stays connected.

“Today, the world is collectively dealing with the menace of COVID-19 and taking emergency measures to contain and eventually eliminate the virus. One such measure is the enforcement of ‘social distancing’ — physical distancing intended to stop or slow down the spread of a contagious disease. All establishments are shutting, people are being asked to stay and work from home. Movement of people within and beyond both state and national borders is being restricted, except for those providing essential services.” Airtel wrote in a letter to Jio, Vodafone, BSNL and MTNL on March 23, 2020. 

Amid this lockdown, when people’s movements are severely curtailed, it is ‘virtual connectivity’ that is proving to be a saviour, he says. “The value of telecommunication networks — both mobile and fixed — has never been more pronounced. Advances in technology are ensuring that the world can, and is, operating seamlessly through telecom platforms and applications and services riding on it, even when confined to homes.

—The News Minute