India’s main telecom operators have reportedly criticised the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) new regulation requiring carriers to supply voice and SMS-only tariff packs, calling it a regressive step. They argue that this transfer is a setback that may hinder the transition to 4G/5G and reverse progress by stopping 2G customers from totally embracing the information revolution, in keeping with an ET report.
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Operators Oppose TRAI’s Mandate
Telecom corporations additionally referred to as TRAI’s newest regulation a retrograde step because it goes in opposition to the present apply of not charging for voice, the report mentioned.
“At current, telcos supply voice companies virtually freed from value in bundled knowledge pack choices, however as soon as voice and text-messages-only packs are launched as per Trai’s newest mandate, voice will get charged and such packs could also be tweaked to say ‘voice and SMS’ as a substitute of knowledge,” the report quoted a senior telco government as saying.
TRAI’s New Regulation
On Monday, the telecom regulator mandated that telcos introduce separate Particular Tariff Vouchers (STV) for voice and SMS to offer customers the choice to pay for less than the companies they require. The intention is to offer advantages to sure client segments, particularly the aged and people residing in rural areas.
Moreover, the validity interval cap for STVs and Combo Vouchers (CV) has been prolonged from the prevailing ninety (90) days to 3 hundred and sixty-five (365) days for the good thing about customers, the Ministry of Communications mentioned on December 23, 2024. Telcos are additionally required to supply a minimum of one Prime-Up voucher of denomination Rs 10.
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Impression on 2G Customers and Transition to 4G/5G
In accordance with TRAI, this mandate would profit India’s remaining 2G customers, twin SIM homeowners and the aged, residing in rural areas, who do not want knowledge and don’t want to pay for it within the present bundled choices that embody knowledge.
India’s telecom operators have reportedly opposed the regulator’s newest directive, which permits the nation’s 150 million 2G customers to buy voice and SMS-only tariff packs. They argue that this regulation would stop function cellphone customers from accessing important government-to-citizen (G2C) on-line companies that require smartphones and knowledge connectivity.
Accelerating Efforts to Transfer Customers to 4G/5G
In accordance with the report, the operators additionally identified that TRAI’s regulation is totally out of sync, particularly as India’s prime two telecom corporations, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, have launched nationwide 5G networks and are accelerating efforts to improve remaining 2G customers to 4G, with plans to finally transition them to 5G. Simply in late August 2024, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani had emphasised Jio’s dedication to a 2G-mukt (free) India, highlighting the JioBharat initiative, which provides entry-level 4G telephones at costs decrease than 2G telephones.
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Vodafone Concept’s 5G Launch
Vodafone Concept (Vi) can also be making ready to launch 5G in key cities subsequent yr and improve its cellular broadband operations to improve 2G prospects to 4G.
“TRAI’s present regulation appears to counsel it isn’t eager on these remaining 2G customers experiencing the advantages of the data-centric Digital India initiatives,” the report quoted one other senior telco government as saying.
