What Communication Ministry Said On Telephone And Mobile Chagres On Minimum Amount (image:pixabay)

New Delhi: In response to a question raised in the Parliament over the telephone and mobile charges on minimum amount, government responded that the Telecom service providers (TSPs) are free to fix tariff for telecommunication services.

In the Lok Sabha, TMC MP Abu Taheer Khan inquired Ministry of Communications whether the government is thinking about keeping the minimum amount of telephone bill or mobile recharge as in the past few years a few mobile operators have been the minimum recharge as mandatory to keep the mobile number active. Khan claims that it is a matter of concern as even the poor people have to pay this money constantly to use their mobile number for the bank Account, Aadhaar card, LPG connection and to get many other government benefits compulsorily.

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To Khan’s question, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani responded that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is a regulatory authority only for services such as National Roaming, Rural Fixed Line Services, USSD services, mobile number portability charges and leased circuits of the telecom service providers.

“As per the extant regulatory tariff provisions, tariff for telecommunication service is under forbearance except for services such as National Roaming, Rural Fixed Line Services, USSD services, mobile number portability charges and leased circuits etc. It implies that the Telecom service providers (TSPs) are free to fix tariff for telecommunication services in a competitive market,” Minister said.

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Adding further, Minister said that, however, as per the Telecommunication Tariff Order (TTO) requirements, Telecom service providers are bound to submit their tariff with TRAI within 7 working days of their launch in the market. “These tariffs are then examined for their compliance with the regulatory principles which include, inter alia, the principles of transparency, non-predation and non-discrimination,” Minister said.

The TRAI is authorised by Government of India to regulate the telecom tariff as per Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act 1997.