TRAI proposes 35% reduction in mobile roaming charges for making calls

Call rates to be reduced by 35%, text charges by 80%

Cell phone users could soon be paying less for calling or sending texts while on roaming. The Telephone Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has proposed a cut — about 35 per cent for calls and up to 80 per cent for texts — for roaming services on cell phones.

Roaming refers to the technology that keeps a cell phone (or other wireless devices) connected to a network. Telecom service providers usually charge a higher rate for providing roaming services.  

The latest draft amendment to the Telecommunication Tariff Order proposes a cut to the highest charges that can be imposed on local calls during roaming. The highest charge proposed is 65p per minute; at present, it is Rs 1 per minute.

The fixed charge for long-distance calls has been proposed to be Rs 1 per minute from the current Rs 1.5 per minute.

For incoming calls, Trai has suggested a highest charge of 45p per minute, instead of the current charge of 75p per minute. For long distance text messages, the amendment has proposed a highest charge of 25p per message, compared to the current Rs 1.5 per message. Also, the regulator has proposed up to 20p for local texts against the current norm of Rs 1.

Trai has sought comments from stakeholders by March 13. A final order would be issued after that.

“Through the amendment order, the authority intends to reduce the ceiling tariffs for national roaming services,” Trai said in a statement.

Trai also issued a draft tariff order, prescribing a framework for commercial interoperability of customer premises equipment (CPE), commonly called set-top box, offered by direct-to-home operators to their subscribers.

Commercial interoperability will provide for a viable exit option to the subscribers in case they want to switch operators or platforms.

The draft order intends to strike a balance between the interests of consumers and of service providers as well as curb piling up of e-waste on account of CPEs.

The regulator has asked for comments from stakeholders by March 13