Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has approached the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) over the value added services (VAS) guidelines issued by the regulator.
In its petition before TDSAT, BSNL has challenged the show-cause notice issued by the regulator in July 2012 for implementation of VAS guidelines.
TDSAT will hear the matter on October 3, 2012.
BSNL?s petition follows similar petition filed against TRAI before TDSAT by Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI). According to COAI and AUSPI operators are not opposed to the idea of seeking the subscribers? prior consent before activating VAS. However, operators are objecting to the method prescribed by TRAI.
TRAI has directed service providers to seek consumers? prior consent through SMS, email or fax within 24 hours of activating any VAS service. Also, according to the TRAI guidelines, operators could charge consumers for VAS only if confirmation for the activation of VAS service has been received from the consumer. Additionally, operators are also required to inform the consumer through SMS at least three days before the date of renewal of a subscribed VAS.
