New Delhi, Aug 01: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India today issued guidelines on publication of tariffs by service providers for consumer information to make them better aware of the overall financial expenditure incurred under any particular tariff package. The advertisement of tariffs should include the tariff information in the format given by TRAI and these guidelines should be implemented forthwith while in case of advertisement on hoardings, it may be stated that "information regarding financial implications may be obtained from the following address/website" (giving the address of the website or address), a TRAI statement said here.

The format advertisement has categories for detailed informations -- name of the tariff package, entry level cost including security deposit, advances, rental, other monthly recurring charges like plan and membership fees, commitment charges, monthly free call allowances in terms of minutes or rupees, duration of the plan. Service providers will also need to give information in the format on pulse rate in seconds for local and inter-circle STD calls above 500 km for fixed, cellular and WLL (M), per minute rate for free calls, financial implications per month for usage, exit option and where should customer complain about the plan.

Following a consultation paper on June 9 and subsequent responses from the stakeholders and consumers on the issue of specification of a format giving certain minimum information on the tariffs provided by the operator, today's guidelines are also intended to help consumers compare various tariff package on offer and are being advertised.

Bureau Report