Trai sets norms for telecom services

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today released a common charter of telecommunication services for adoption by all service providers.

Under the charter, a basic telephone connection should be provided within seven days while a mobile connection should be provided immediately on registration subject to technical feasibility and compliance of all required formalities by the applicant.

It also provides citizens the right to have a free choice in selecting their service providers besides being informed regarding the broad range of services, individual plans, tariff rates applicable to each of these plans, validity and terms and conditions of payment by the service provider.

The charter also has the provision for repair of faults within 24 hours wherever technically feasible besides allowing emergency services like police, fire and ambulance for a period of 15 days even after the telephone connection is suspended, a Trai release said.

The charter was finalised in consultation with NGOs, consumer advocacy groups and representatives of various telecom service providers, it said.