The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing leading telecom operators including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, has raised urgent concerns regarding the rampant theft of telecom equipment.

In a letter addressed to telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal, COAI highlighted the escalating cases of equipment theft, resulting in substantial losses and operational disruptions for telcos.

COAI emphasized the critical need for government intervention to address the issue promptly. The association urged the Department of Telecom (DoT) to prioritize complaints related to equipment theft and take stringent action to curb this growing problem.

COAI stressed the importance of collaboration between the DoT and state authorities to effectively tackle equipment theft across the country.

Moreover, COAI called upon the DoT to take immediate steps to block several foreign websites allegedly involved in the sale of stolen telecom equipment.

Websites such as eBay, Alibaba, Telefly, Seeker816, and Dorfatrade were specifically mentioned in COAI‘s letter to the DoT, with the association asserting the urgency of blocking these platforms to mitigate further losses.

COAI Director General SP Kochhar underscored the severity of the situation, noting a significant increase in equipment theft incidents since October 2023.

Kochhar highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to address theft issues, particularly in high-risk areas such as Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab, and Haryana.

The association emphasized that customers bear the brunt of these thefts, experiencing a decline in service quality or even complete service disruption. COAI urged swift action to safeguard telecom infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted services for consumers.

With the telecom industry facing mounting challenges due to equipment theft, COAI’s call for government intervention underscores the urgency of addressing this pressing issue to maintain the integrity of telecom networks and uphold service standards for consumers nationwide.