Vi moves TDSAT against Trai diktat on porting out
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has granted interim relief to Vodafone Idea Ltd, which had challenged a recent regulatory order mandating telcos to enable a short code facility for switching to another telco. According to two people aware of the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Vodafone Idea had moved the tribunal last week.
The TDSAT asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) not to take any “precipitate action” in the matter, and will hear the matter again on February 22. Mint has seen a copy of the December 24 order which was released on Monday.
The interim relief would mean that Vodafone Idea, and other carriers, can continue to offer the low-value plans which do not have SMS facility, and subscribers would have to pay up more to use text messages or move to higher paid plans. This, according to analysts, would mean higher average revenue per customer (ARPU) for carriers.
On December 7, Trai directed telcos to immediately enable the facility to send text message or SMS short code 1900, which is used for porting from one carrier to another, for all subscribers, prepaid and postpaid, irrespective of the tariff value of the offer or voucher. Trai said not providing the service breaches mobile number portability (MNP) rules. Trai said it had received complaints from subscribers about not being able to send short code 1900, specified for generating unique porting code for availing MNP facility despite having sufficient balance in their prepaid accounts. It said it had found that telcos were not providing outgoing SMS facility in certain prepaid vouchers, but did not name any specific carrier.
In its petition, Vodafone Idea said it was in full compliance with all MNP rules and tariff regulations, while the carrier argued that such a mandate would essentially mean a change in tariff regulations.