As India's telecoms industry deals with intense competition and a wave of consolidation, operators have approached the government seeking new reforms that would improve the ease of doing business among the sector.
Startup companies have requested that they be given opportunity to participate on a more equal basis in public projects, Cellular Operators Association of India director general Rajan Mathews told the Economic Times.
The companies made the request during a round table discussion with government representatives on ease of doing business in the sector.
According to the companies, tender conditions requiring high turnover and experience are keeping them locked out of the market.
Startups are also calling for low cost finance to be made available and for an easing of financial compliance requirements.
Meanwhile COAI and established operators such as Vodafone have raised issues including high levies and low rates of return on investment.
Operators want to know when the proposed National Digital Communications Policy, which would address most of the established operators' issues, will be implemented, Mathews said. The draft policy calls for the issues facing the sector to be addressed by 2022.