TRAI completes consultation process on nationwide free roaming
Reports suggest free roaming facility is likely to be made available through special tariff vouchers.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has wrapped up the consultation process on the much-awaited nationwide free roaming facility. The body is expected to provide its recommendations on the proposed facility within next 10-15 days.
“On national roaming, the consultation has been completed, the authority is in the process of formulating its final rules before it takes a decision in 10-15 days,” Trai Chairman Rahul Khullar is quoted as saying.
According to reports, the free roaming is likely to made be available through special tariff vouchers. Though it’s not completely free, it’s being considered as one major step towards bring down the roaming tariffs.
The National Telecom Policy 2012 envisages free roaming across the country as well as pan-India mobile number portability. The free roaming was likely to be made available by March this year, but got delayed to due to strong opposition from the telecom operators, which fear a loss of Rs 12,500 crore to Rs 15,000 crore (according to an Ernst and Young estimate) due to abolishing of roaming charges.
Telecom minister Kapil Sibal recently said the government is trying to make the free roaming facility available to users by October this year.
Back in December 2012, the regulatory body had floated a pre-consultation paper seeking inputs from stakeholders on tariff for national roaming services.