In a letter to incumbent operators Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular, TRAI said Jio's Happy New Year Offer has not been found to be violative of the principles of non-discrimination, inter-connect rule compliance and non-predation.
TRAI further said that its examination had revealed that the Happy New Year Offer launched by Reliance Jio on December 4, 2016 is distinct from its earlier Welcome Offer and cannot be treated as an extension of earlier promotional offer as the benefits under both sets of promotional offers differ.
India's largest mobile operator Bharti Airtel and its smaller rival Idea Cellular had moved telecom tribunal TDSAT against the regulator for allowing the Mukesh Ambani-led telecom venture to continue free promotional offer beyond the stipulated 90 days.
Following this, TRAI asked Attorney General for views on Jio's free voice and data offering till March 2017 that rivals had termed "predatory".
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Sources said during the hearing at TDSAT yesterday, TRAI counsel submitted that the regulator has already taken a decision on the issue, after which TDSAT directed TRAI to file its decision. The next date of hearing on the matter is February 6.
On December 20, 2016, TRAI had asked Reliance Jio to explain as to "why the offer of free data under the promotional offer should not be treated as predatory" and also explain why its tariffs were not in violation of existing regulatory guidelines.
there was no option of renewal or payment after the 4 GB limit was exhausted, but in the fresh offering -- the validity of which is from December 4, 2016 till March 3, 2017 -- one can recharge both data and the promised speed.
In terms of market dominance, Reliance Jio had said it accounts for 6 per cent market share in the country whereas the Competition Commission of India (CCI) norms specify 30 per cent threshold to trigger the misuse of market dominance clause.
E-mails sent to the three operators -- Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Reliance Jio -- for their response went unanswered.