Airtel dragged the TRAI to the TDSAT by claiming that regulator has been a mute spectator to the gross violations committed by Reliance Jio.
Reliance Jio Free Services Might End On Dec 31, Here’s Why
On December 23, country’s largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel dragged the TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) to the TDSAT (Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal) by claiming that regulator has been a mute spectator to the gross violations committed by Reliance Jio.
Airtel had charged against TRAI as per regulatory orders in force; there can’t be such things like free voice calls as the interconnect usage charge (IUC) acts as a floor for a retail tariff. Moreover, the promotional plan offered by any operator can only be within the period of 90 days.
So, we all know that Reliance Jio had extended its service until March 31, 2017. So, this is almost six months means 180 days. Therefore, Reliance Jio has violated, and the TRAI has failed to pass any direction against it. Airtel claimed that TRAI’s allowance to Reliance Jio to continue its free service causing “significant prejudice and day-to-day loss” to it and “affecting its network.”
Airtel said in its petition that the “free services” continue in blatant violation of the TRAI’s Directions, Tariff Orders and the Regulations with “TRAI as a mute spectator.” TRAI had taken time limit of 10 more days to take any decision. TDSAT asked TRAI to came back with its decision on the next day and also asked JIO to file an impleading application.
January 6, 2017, is the date fixed for the next hearing. Airtel in the petition said that “The TRAI further without affording any reasoning baldly, cryptically and in a non-transparent manner in violation of Section 11(4) of the TRAI Act concluded that the Tariff Plans offered by the said TSP are not non-compliant with IUC and are not predatory and discriminatory at present. The impugned decision of TRAI is thus bad in law and deserves to be quashed,”
Bharti Airtel has also prayed that the promotional offer of RJio be stopped immediately, as it is leading to imbalanced traffic and choking the networks of the incumbent operators.
So, what do you think about this? Share your views in the comment box below.
0 Comments