Indian Telcos Slam TRAI’s New Voice and SMS-Solely Pack Mandate: Report

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 can hinder the transition to 4G/5G and reverse progress by stopping 2G customers from totally embracing the info revolution, based on an ET report.

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Operators Oppose TRAI’s Mandate

Telecom firms additionally referred to as TRAI’s newest regulation a retrograde step because it goes in opposition to the present follow of not charging for voice, the report stated.

“At current, telcos provide voice providers nearly freed from price in bundled information 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 an alternative of information,” the report quoted a senior telco govt 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 under the providers they require. The goal is to supply advantages to sure shopper 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 present ninety (90) days to a few hundred and sixty-five (365) days for the good thing about customers, the Ministry of Communications stated on December 23, 2024. Telcos are additionally required to supply not less than one Prime-Up voucher of denomination Rs 10.

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Impression on 2G Customers and Transition to 4G/5G

Based on TRAI, this mandate would profit India’s remaining 2G customers, twin SIM house owners and the aged, residing in rural areas, who do not want information and don’t want to pay for it within the present bundled choices that embody information.

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 providers that require smartphones and information connectivity.

Accelerating Efforts to Transfer Customers to 4G/5G

Based on the report, the operators additionally identified that TRAI’s regulation is totally out of sync, particularly as India’s high two telecom firms, 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 Thought’s 5G Launch

Vodafone Thought (Vi) can be getting 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 govt as saying.