The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered an investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices committed by Airtel, Idea, Vodafone India and lobbying group COAI for apparently trying to block Reliance Jio’s entry into the market, according to his PTI report. Sources who did not wish to be identified told the publication that CCI will probe COAI’s functioning since the investigation was aimed at its members—Airtel, Idea, Vodafone. Jio is also a member of COAI. The operators and COAI were named in a complaint filed against them by Jio in November. Jio alleged that Airtel, Idea and Vodafone had formed a cartel to restrict its operations by denying interconnection points. This ET report also quoted unidentified sources who said that CCI will additionally probe into alleged blocking of MNP facility for users looking to shift to Jio. The interrogation will be conducted Section 26(1) the Competition Act, which looks into the investigation of complaints made under antitrust charges. An Airtel spokesperson told MediaNama that company has “not received any such communication from the CCI and would, therefore, not be able to comment. We have already stated that we have always responded with alacrity and provided a staggering quantum of PoIs to Reliance Jio in record time.” Airtel, however, did not provide details of the total number of PoIs deployed, when we asked. Idea, Vodafone and COAI’s Rajan Mathews are yet to reply to MediaNama’s queries. Airtel, Idea and Vodafone already have lead market shares Note that, prior to Jio’s entry, the three…
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