Tariff at current level not sustainable, must go up, says Airtel CEO

Vittal refused to comment on whether the company was planning to increase tariffs

Making a pitch for higher tariffs, Bharti Airtel Chief Executive Officer Gopal Vittal on Tuesday said that the rates at the current level were “unsustainable” and should go up. Speaking on the interconnect usage charges (IUC) he said that the industry is awaiting the outcome on the consultation paper floated by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the subject.

“Over the last 20 years IUC has been absorbed in the cost of business and tariff is what it is and we feel that the tariff is unsustainable and should go up,” Vittal said on the sidelines of India