Skip to main content

Trai Floats Paper Seeking Views on Consumer Issues

Kolkata:
Our Bureau

Feedback sought on consumer problems in case of termination of telecom services
The telecom regulator has floated a new discussion paper seeking clarity on issues faced by consumers, typically, when operators need to switch off networks due to changes in licencing rules, discontinuation of a particular mobile technology or even the advent of spectrum trading.

In a consultation paper issued Wednesday, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has sought views from stakeholders on whether the notice period to subscribers in case of a services closure needs to be enhanced from 30 days to 60 days to give customers enough time to use up their talktime balance.

It has also sought views on whether a telco needs to give such 60 days advance notice to customers, the telecom department (DoT) and Trai if it is selling airwaves in a particular circle and shutting down operations.

The regulator has also sought industry feedback on whether a telco migrating customers to a newer mobile technology should offer them tariff protection and carry-over of unused talk-time balance. ā€œThe Authority, suo-motu, decided to examine these issues through a consultation paper as there have been cases where due to changes in policy of assignment of licence, trading of spectrum or upgradation of a (mobile) technology, there has been discontinuity of services to subscribers,ā€œ the Trai said.

The sector regulator has also invited suggestions from telcos on the ideal mode of communicating a services closure to subscribers.

This apart, Trai has sought industry views on whether there is a need to tweak licensing regulations for telcos who have liberalised airwaves originally acquired through the administrative route.Liberalising has to do with paying the market price for airwaves that were originally allotted and not auctioned. Trai has also sought stakeholder suggestions on how much time customers should be given to port out, post-closure of commercial services by a telco.


1ST DECEMBER 2016,THE ECONOMIC TIMES , NEW DELHI.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Budget: Startup sector gets new Fund of Funds, FM to allocate Rs 10K cr

  The Indian startup sector received a boost with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing the establishment of a new fund of funds (FoF) in the Budget 2025. The minister unveiled a fresh FoF with an expanded scope, allocating Rs 10,000 crore. The initial fund of funds announced by the government with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore successfully catalysed commitments worth Rs 91,000 crore, the minister said.   ā€œThe renewal of the Rs 10,000 crore commitment to the Fund of Funds for alternative investment funds (AIFs) is a significant step forward for the Indian startup and investment ecosystem. The initial Rs 10,000 crore commitment catalysed Rs 91,000 crore in investments, and I fully expect this fresh infusion to attract an additional Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh crore in capital,ā€ said Anirudh Damani, managing partner, Artha Venture Funds.   Damani further added that this initiative will provide much-needed growth capital to early-stage startups, further strengthenin...

GST collection for November rises by 8.5% to Rs.1.82 trillion

  New Delhi: Driven by festive demand, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for the Union and state governments climbed to Rs.1.82 trillion in November, marking an 8.5% year-on-year growth, according to official data released on Sunday. Sequentially, however, the latest collection figures are lower than the Rs.1.87 trillion reported in October, which was the second highest reported so far since the new indirect tax regime was introduced in 2017. The highest-ever GST collection of Rs.2.1 trillion was reported in April. The consumption tax figures highlight the positive impact of the recent festive season on goods purchases, providing a much-needed boost the industry had been anticipating. The uptick in GST collections driven by festive demand had been anticipated by policymakers, who remain optimistic about sustained growth in rural consumption and an improvement in urban demand. The Ministry of Finance, in its latest monthly economic review released last week, stated that I...