NCP supports local cable and Internet operators, demands to have TRAI office in Mumbai

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Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) general secretary, Avinash Adik in a letter addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday demanded to convene a meeting of the corporate cable and internet service providers and local cable service providers in order to avoid clashes. He demanded that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) should have its office in Mumbai so as to make it easier for cable and internet service providers to resolve issues here only.

The NCP leader expressed concerns over giving protection to Maharashtrian people who are engaged in the business of providing cable and internet services. Corporate companies like Tata, Jio, Airtel and others are aggressively into this business which is risking the business of the local cable and internet service providers.

According to Adik, corporate companies like Tata, Jio, Airtel and others have entered aggressively into the business of cable and internet providers due to which the local cable service providers are facing problems and tough challenges to retain their customers.

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“These private companies like Tata, Jio, Airtel and others are aggressively launching their services due to which the businesses of the local service providers are at risk. Many Maharashtrian youths who are earning a livelihood will also lose their jobs. If it continues the same way then again there will be chances of struggle between the private companies and the local service providers”, said Adik.

Government should seriously look into the matter and call a meeting of both the parties and take appropriate measures to avoid any conflict in future.

In the letter wrote to the Maharashtra CM, Adik pointed out some issues they were
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) office is in Delhi but Mumbai is also an important city as it is the economic capital of the country and the center government gets a huge amount as tax revenue still this sector has no protection either from State or from the Center.

The TRAI is a statutory body set up by the Government of India under section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997. It is the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India.

Local cable and internet operator’s business are at risk due to the various private companies entering into this sector and spreading its web among the masses aggressively. Therefore the government should set some rules and regulations in favour of these cable operator’s.

Adik further requested the government to think over the issue of entertainment tax which is pending. Also demanded to set a state level committee to have control on the cable and internet service providers and the committee should be headed by an IAS or IPS.

MNS has always been seen standing firmly for the rights of the Marathi manoos also reacted on this issue.

“We have been on this issue for a long time but I feel good that now NCP has also raised this issue. These corporate companies have entered so aggressively and as a result our local cable and internet operators are facing heavy losses in business. Our Marathi youths are losing their jobs. We will take this issue on priority and soon will get an outcome of this issue”, said Maharashtra Navnirman Cable Sena, general secretary, Tushar Aphale.