COAI AGM: Ajai Puri of Airtel Remains Chairman; P K Mittal of Reliance Jio is Vice Chairman

COAI, the apex industry association representing leading Telecom, Internet, Technology and Digital Services companies, concluded its Annual General Body Meeting for the Financial Year 2020-21, with the announcement of its leadership for the term 2021-22.

Puri has been with Bharti Airtel since 2004 and has held several senior leadership positions including Director – Market Operations and Director and CEO – DTH. Prior to joining Bharti Airtel, Puri served as the Business Head - Foods at Cargill Foods India.

While P K Mittal of Reliance Jio comes with a rich experience of 42 years in telecommunications.  Before joining Reliance Jio Infocomm as President, Mittal served in the Department of Telecommunications for over 37 years. Since the year 2000, he served as Deputy Director General (DDG) and then as Senior DDG, working in the telecommunication policy formulation and implementation, licensing and regulatory wings of the DoT.

During his tenure, he was responsible for the liberalization of Basic services, opening of National Long-Distance Services and   International Long-Distance Services, introduction and implementation of Unified Access Service Licence and the Unified Licence regime.

 Lt. Gen. Dr. SP Kochhar, Director General, COAI, expressed his appreciation for Puri and Mittal's support and their leadership. "The past year has been one of the most eventful and also the most challenging for the Indian telecom industry. The AGR ruling of the Honorable Supreme court added to the challenges posed by the pandemic, the nationwide lock-downs, and the multiple cyclones that battered India. Despite these challenges the industry has continued to serve the nation as an essential service," he said.

Puri of Bharti Airtel and Chairman, COAI, said: “The digital communications industry has once again risen to serve India and has kept the nation connected during this unprecedented phase. On behalf of the industry, I would like to reiterate our commitment to support the government’s efforts to connect and digitise the country at large as we emerge from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are thankful to the DoT, Central and State Governments as well as the Telecom Regulator for supporting and encouraging the industry to achieve the role envisioned for it.”

Mittal, President, Reliance Jio Infocomm and Vice Chairman, COAI, said, “It’s a pleasure for me to once again take the responsibility as Vice Chairman of COAI and continue to work with the industry to bring about the next level of reforms in order to uplift and strengthen the sector while initiating measures for the benefit of end consumers.”