Billionaire Ambani, telcos spar with Adani's Mumbai airport on mobile networks

By Aditya Kalra and Munsif Vengattil

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's telecom company is among those urging the government to act over what they describe as monopolistic practices at Gautam Adani's new Mumbai airport, saying the facility is blocking operators from providing mobile connectivity, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

Adani-run Navi Mumbai International Airport denied the allegations, but the dispute highlights the growing rivalry between India's two richest men, whose conglomerates increasingly compete across sectors from green energy to data centres.

The airport, located on Mumbai’s outskirts, began operations in December after being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is the latest addition to Adani’s portfolio of eight airports, with plans for more.

Within days of opening, passengers complained on social media about poor or non-existent mobile coverage and raised privacy concerns after spotting billboards offering free airport Wi-Fi.

TELECOM OPERATORS DEMAND ACCESS TO AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

A January 13 letter from Cellular Operators Association of India to India's government states Adani's airport must grant access to install equipment as required by Indian regulations for public entities, which includes airports, and that a denial has created a "monopolistic bottleneck".

In its statement, Navi Mumbai International Airport said it had deployed “state-of-the-art solutions” and that operators could partner with an entity managing the airport’s in-building network infrastructure.

COAI, which represents Ambani's Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel BRTI.NS and Vodafone Idea VODA.NS, said it had no comment beyond the letter, which is not public.

The companies and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, did not respond to Reuters queries.

PASSENGER DISTRESS: 'WE CAN'T CALL PEOPLE'

Jio leads India's telecom market with over 500 million subscribers, followed by Airtel at 314 million and Vodafone at nearly 128 million.

Online, passengers have voiced frustration that the airport’s Wi-Fi cannot be accessed without mobile coverage because login requires a one-time password sent via WhatsApp.

"You'll be thankful to see free Wi-Fi banners, thinking you can at least book cabs now. You go to the Wi-Fi network and try to log in, but it requires an OTP (one time password)," X user adarsxh_baab wrote on Jan. 13.

Adani's statement added that when network coverage is left to individual operators, they often provide "sub-optimal coverage" in sensitive areas such as baggage handling zones.

COAI also said the airport is demanding around $102,000 per operator each month - nearly $5 million annually for four carriers - to use its centralised network, an allegation Adani denied.

"We can't call people, pay for cabs or even book anything. If you're a solo traveller it's hell," X user Srihita Vanguri wrote on the platform on Sunday.