Lok Sabha Question No. 2025 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Mobile and Internet Tariff
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV, S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, HARISHCHANDRA DEORAM CHAVAN, RAMA DEVI

## MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2025 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  MARCH,  2016

## MOBILE AND INTERNET TARIFF

†2025. DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV:

SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA:

SHRI HARISHCHANDRA CHAVAN:

SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

Will  the  Minister  of  COMMUNICATIONS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any control on mobile tariff;
- (b) whether the rates of mobile services are likely to be revised soon and if so, the details thereof, indicating the existing rates for various telecom services in the country;
- (c) whether  some  telecom  operators  have  increased  mobile  tariff  and  have  been making frequent changes in their tariff plans misleading the users;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the complaints received against such telecom operators, operator-wise; and
- (e) the action taken by the Government in this regard and the measures taken to keep the mobile rates reasonable?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (e) The Government does not fix  tariffs  for  telecom  services.  The  power  to notify  the  rates  at  which  telecommunication  services  are  to  be  provided  by  various telecom  operators  in  the  country  was  vested  in  the  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of India (TRAI) under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act of 1997.  Section 11 (2)  of  TRAI  Act  empowers the Authority to notify  Tariff for  various  telecommunication services.

Contd…….2/-

As per the existing tariff framework, tariff for telecommunication access service in the  country  is  under  forbearance  except  for  National  Roaming  and  Rural  Fixed  Line Services. The  telecom  service  providers  have  the  flexibility  to  decide  various  tariff components for different service areas of their operation. Tariffs are offered by telecom service  providers  taking  into  account  several  factors  including  input  costs,  level  of competition and other commercial considerations. Hike and reduction of different tariff components by telecom service providers are a regular feature and these changes vary for different tariff plans/ special tariff vouchers and service areas of operation.

TRAI monitors the tariff offered by the telecom service providers on a regular basis. TRAI  has  issued  several  guidelines  for  protection  of  interest  of  consumers  including those  related  to  misleading  tariffs  and  transparency  in  communication  of  tariff.  At present, as informed by TRAI, the average tariffs for outgoing voice calls in India are one of the lowest in the world. The average tariff for outgoing voice call is Rs. 0.48 per minute for GSM service and Rs. 0.39 per minute for CDMA-full mobility service.

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