(The Times of India via NewsEdge) In its initiative to review roaming charges levied by operators, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) seeks to do away with the 15% surcharge that is levied at present.
TRAI has said that in some cases, operators are charging more than the prescribed ceiling of 3.45 rupee ($0.07) plus 15% a minute under the present system, which has been in place since 2002.
On the other hand, costs have come down significantly, while volumes have also shot up, but the benefits have not been passed on to the consumers.
'Compared with the underlying cost of providing services, applicable charges levied by operators are on the higher side,' TRAI said, adding that the representations received from consumers merit consideration.
'A further cause of user and consumer concern is the lack of transparency to the customer about the charges and the charging patterns for availing roaming services,' the regulator said.
An explosion in the subscriber base leading to a direct growth in minutes of usage, reduction in license fee payable by operators on the adjusted gross revenue, introduction of calling party pays regime, and fixation of cost-based interconnection usage charges are factors justifying the move, it added.
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