TRAI releases consultation paper on reducing roaming call and SMS rates
The telecom regulatory body seeks views from the industry and stakeholders to cut down roaming call and SMS charges.
The Telecom regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper seeking views on bringing down the mobile call and SMS rates while on roaming. The regulator has proposed various options to cut down roaming charges, including a new norm called Home Price Rule, which envisages a mobile subscriber is charged the same amount on roaming as in the native circle.
According to the TRAI, the mobile phone customers on roaming are charged Re. 1 for outgoing calls where as Rs. 1.5 for outgoing STD calls, and Re. 1 for incoming calls. For SMS, outgoing messages are normally charged Rs. 1.5.
However, in the native telecom circle, a customer is charged generally 72p for local calls, outgoing STD call 90p, each local SMS Re. 1 and STD SMS in range of Rs. 1.5 to Rs 3.45
“It is deemed necessary to undertake an exercise to review the framework for tariffs for national roaming. An additional consideration for carrying out this review is to address the objective of working towards “One Nation – Free Roaming” stated in the National Telecom Policy 2012,” TRAI said in its consultation paper.
TRAI adds that the efforts for “removal of roaming charges is an aspect of the overall policy thrust towards removal of geographic barriers in licensing and telecom operations to promote free mobility for usage of communications facilities in the country.”
TRAI has asked industry players to provide their views on ‘Review of Tariff for National Roaming’ by March 18.
Last week, the telecom regulator had released consultation process to seek views from stakeholders on the pan-India MNP services. The regulator has asked the stakeholders and other interested parties to submit their views by March 7. Read more about TRAI’s MNP consultation paper here.
Source: Indian Express