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WLL handsets: TRAI not to regulate prices: The Pioneer
New Delhi, July 18: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Thursday refrained from regulating the prices of limited mobility (WLL) handsets, even if they are part of the consumers` payment plans, as long as the tariffs are uniformly available to all customers.
New Delhi, July 18: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Thursday refrained from regulating the prices of limited mobility (WLL) handsets, even if they are part of the consumers' payment plans, as long as the tariffs are uniformly available to all customers.
Effectively, this will allow Reliance and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Limited (MTNL) to continue with their latest schemes that offer handsets with low rentals and call charges.
However, the TRAI has also reiterated its case for greater clarity and transparency in telephone tariff schemes, deciding that all available schemes, irrespective of the manner in which telephone instruments are procured, must be available to all customers. "The Authority regulates telecom tariffs and not handset prices or financing, leasing and insurance schemes for handsets. Any handset offer must make sure that all the tariff plans available in the market are on offer to the customer whether he procures the handset from the service provider or from any other source," a TRAI statement said. The TRAI had sought clarifications from operators on payment schemes that featured "free" handsets as incentives to migrate to their service. The schemes were being provided by Reliance under Monsoon Hungama, which promised a handset and a connection at Rs 501 (rental of Rs 149 extra) and by the BSNL which was mulling a Rs 20 monthly payment for WiLL handsets.
The tariff plans, however, will now be seen independent of special handset offers. For instance, customers bringing in their own CDMA handsets will have access to the same call charge rates and monthly payments as those purchasing a handset from their service provider.
The TRAI has also clarified the guidelines it has followed in coming in Thursday's decision. First, that it does not regulate handset financing; second, that it regulates telecom tariffs and any handset offer must make sure that all schemes available are available without discrimination based on handset procurement to all consumers, and third, that the tariff plans must be seen without the handset costs incurred by the subscriber.
However, the TRAI has also reiterated its case for greater clarity and transparency in telephone tariff schemes, deciding that all available schemes, irrespective of the manner in which telephone instruments are procured, must be available to all customers. "The Authority regulates telecom tariffs and not handset prices or financing, leasing and insurance schemes for handsets. Any handset offer must make sure that all the tariff plans available in the market are on offer to the customer whether he procures the handset from the service provider or from any other source," a TRAI statement said. The TRAI had sought clarifications from operators on payment schemes that featured "free" handsets as incentives to migrate to their service. The schemes were being provided by Reliance under Monsoon Hungama, which promised a handset and a connection at Rs 501 (rental of Rs 149 extra) and by the BSNL which was mulling a Rs 20 monthly payment for WiLL handsets.
The tariff plans, however, will now be seen independent of special handset offers. For instance, customers bringing in their own CDMA handsets will have access to the same call charge rates and monthly payments as those purchasing a handset from their service provider.
The TRAI has also clarified the guidelines it has followed in coming in Thursday's decision. First, that it does not regulate handset financing; second, that it regulates telecom tariffs and any handset offer must make sure that all schemes available are available without discrimination based on handset procurement to all consumers, and third, that the tariff plans must be seen without the handset costs incurred by the subscriber.