The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has made it mandatory for telecom operators to offer at least one tariff plan that is based on per second pulse rate. According to the regulator, the option of per second billing will be available for both pre-paid and post-paid customers. The TRAI says the service providers will have the liberty to offer alternative tariff plans with any pulse rate within the overall ceiling of 25 tariff plans.
The TRAI has also announced a cap on the amount charged for calls and SMSes meant for participating in contests and games. In its amendments to the Telecommunication Tariff Order (TTO), the regulator noted that the rates for ‘premium rate services' (PRS), now levied by service providers, were “substantially higher” than the normal tariff.
“Keeping in view the fact that calls and SMS made for participating in competition and voting hardly contain any content, the authority has mandated that the tariff for such calls and SMS shall not exceed four times of the applicable local call/SMS charges,” it said.
The new directives comes shortly after the regulator announced a hike of Re. 1 on processing fee on top up vouchers priced above Rs. 20.
“Authority has decided to increase the ceiling on Processing Fee on Top up vouchers to Rs 3 from Rs 2 in respect of Top up vouchers having maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 20 and above and to continue with the existing ceiling of Rs 2 in respect of top up vouchers having MRP of less than Rs 20," the TRAI.
The TRAI also directed the telcos to offer at least one top up voucher priced below Rs. 10.
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