The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is likely to frame new guidelines to ensure transparency in mobile tariff plans.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is likely to frame new guidelines to ensure transparency in mobile tariff plans. One of the steps under consideration is ?one tariff plan for all?, at least for the pre-paid mobile subscribers. According to TRAI, innumerable tariffs plan have been launched by the telecom operators. Even though telecom companies are barred from offering more than 25 tariff plans each in any service area, the total number of schemes offered by multiple service providers in some circles is as high as 134.
In Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai), 85 GSM tariff plans are being provided. The number is 114 in Delhi, 81 in Kolkata and 26 in Chennai. Considering the combined total of GSM, CDMA and landline tariff schemes, Mumbai has 292 to choose from and Delhi has 276. In Kolkata, 203 tariff plans are on offer while that in Chennai is 61.
Across India, the total number of tariff plans (mobile and landline taken together) is 5,074. Industry representatives have been asked to send their suggestions regarding the same to TRAI by November 15, 2010.
In a consultation paper submitted by TRAI, the regulator has said that while forbearance of tariff has positive impact on subscriber growth and reduction of call charges, ?subscribers are concerned about multiplicity of tariff plans, complexity, and non-transparency of tariff offers.?
It has further stated that ?the mobile growth increasingly covers a large number of persons from rural areas and also low income groups in its fold.? Thus, there is an increased need for transparency and clearly understood tariff plans.
