TRAI completes consultation process on nationwide free roaming
TRAI completes consultation process on nationwide free roaming
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
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