TRAI allows partial free national roaming, reduces ceilings on tariffs
TRAI allows partial free national roaming, reduces ceilings on tariffs
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The Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has slashed ceilings on national
roaming tariff and has allowed telecom operators to provide free nationwide roaming to subscribers through Special Tariff Vouchers and combo packs.
The TRAI
has also restricted national roaming tariff on outgoing local calls at
Re. 1 per minute and Rs. 1.50 per minute on STD calls. Earlier, the
ceiling tariff prescribed by the regulator was Rs. 1.40 per minute for
outgoing local and Rs. 2.40 per minute for outgoing STD calls during
roaming.
Limit on incoming calls during roaming
has been capped at 75p per minute, down from Rs. 1.75 per minute.
Tariffs for outgoing SMS local and STD while on national roaming have
been capped at Re 1 per SMS and Rs. 1.50 per SMS respectively. Incoming
SMS will remain free.
The new system will come into effect from July 1.
It's notable the TRAI has permitted for a partial free roaming system not a full-fledged one.
Explaining the reason behind the move, the TRAI says,
“...There are still real costs incurred in providing the national
roaming facility. Mandating a fully free regime is simply not
practicable at this juncture. Compelling a transition to a fully free
national roaming regime would result in telecom service providers not
being able to recover their costs from roamers. In turn, telecom service
providers would pass these costs on to all consumers (predominantly
non-roamers) through their higher tariffs.”
The latest decision of the TRAI is
likely to benefit all subscribers. Competitive pricing below the new
ceiling levels is expected whereas the STVs and combo vouchers as well
as special tariff plans and roaming tariff will cater to the specific
roaming needs of different customer segments. Also, the move will not
lead to increased burden on customers, especially those who don't use
the roaming facility.
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