Asim Ghosh new COAI chairman

Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), the body representing the GSM operators in the country, has named Vodafone Essar Managing Director Asim Ghosh as its chairman, replacing Sanjeev Aga whose tenure has come to an end. The GSM operators' body has also got its first woman vice-chairperson, Sunita Reddy of Aircel.

The association will announce the change of guard at its annual general meeting (AGM) on May 21. The elections for the posts were held during this week, after the tenure of the present committee expired, according to sources close to the development.

"Both Aga and Reddy were elected unanimously, and the association believes this team will provide a correct balance for its ongoing operations. The role of the body has also increased as GSM players are expanding operations and issues such as spectrum have to be looked into," a source said. When contacted, COAI executives declined to comment, adding the results will be announced at the AGM.

COAI has representations from the all the GSM operators in the country and its governing body is decided through an electoral process. COAI Director General, at present T V Ramachandran, handled the executive functions of the body.

Sanjeev Aga, who is also the managing director of Idea Cellular, is stepping down after serving two consecutive terms as the association's chairman. The committee is elected for a term of one year.

As per the association's existing policy, it is promoting the present Vice- Chairman Asim Ghosh as chairman.

COAI was constituted in 1995 as a non-profit, non-governmental society for the advancement of communication through Cellular Mobile Telephone Service (CMTS). The association interacts with policy makers, licensor, regulator, spectrum management agency and the telecom industry.