TRAI bars telcos from offering different plans to same category of subscribers
May 26, 2017, 12:30 IST
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has banned mobile service providers from offering different plans to same category of subscribers after a complaint was filed by Reliance Jio.
This order would limit the incumbent telcos to sell customised plans in a bid to to lure customers against switching to Jio.
"The authority directs all the Access Service Providers to ensure that all the tariffs offered to the consumers shall not be discriminatory between the subscribers of the same class, and to ensure that every tariff that is offered to a customer is invariably reported to the authority as per the reporting framework under the forbearance regime," said TRAI in a two-page order.
Presently, telcos need to report all plans to TRAI within seven working days of introducing them. However, now the telcos won’t be be able to offer customized packs to an individual subscriber.
These customised plans, when filed with TRAI, would also breach the limit of up to 25 plans a month that telcos can file, both postpaid and prepaid.
Also read: Airtel and Vodafone to lower travel tariffs by up to 90%
The order came after Reliance Jio informed TRAI that Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular were offering special tariff vouchers to their users, so that they can stick with these telcos and not move to Jio.
Incumbent telcos, however, denied all allegations, claiming that they were complying with all regulatory guidelines.
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This order would limit the incumbent telcos to sell customised plans in a bid to to lure customers against switching to Jio.
"The authority directs all the Access Service Providers to ensure that all the tariffs offered to the consumers shall not be discriminatory between the subscribers of the same class, and to ensure that every tariff that is offered to a customer is invariably reported to the authority as per the reporting framework under the forbearance regime," said TRAI in a two-page order.
Presently, telcos need to report all plans to TRAI within seven working days of introducing them. However, now the telcos won’t be be able to offer customized packs to an individual subscriber.
These customised plans, when filed with TRAI, would also breach the limit of up to 25 plans a month that telcos can file, both postpaid and prepaid.
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Also read: Airtel and Vodafone to lower travel tariffs by up to 90%
The order came after Reliance Jio informed TRAI that Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular were offering special tariff vouchers to their users, so that they can stick with these telcos and not move to Jio.
Incumbent telcos, however, denied all allegations, claiming that they were complying with all regulatory guidelines.