‘Will rethink penalty if free calls given for every drop’
CONSUMERS FIRST Telecom regulatory body accuses companies of not agreeing to arrangements it suggested for compensating subscribers
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that private telecom companies had put blinkers on their eyes and were filling up their coffers without augmenting the infrastructure.
Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Trai, told a bench of justice Kurien Joseph and justice RF Nariman that the body has to safeguard the interest of 100 crore telecom subscribers. He said the penalty on call drop can be done away with if the companies compensate the consumer with equal number of free calls.
Rohatgi cited Telenor’s plan under which the company provides for a free call in lieu of a call drop. However, it is restricted to only Telenor subscribers. The AG said other operators should consider offering the service to their consumers too. “If they agree to do so, then we are open to considering dropping the penalty,” Rohatgi said.
As per the Trai regulation, under challenge by operators, the mobile telecom companies have to credit `1 to a user’s account for every call that ends abruptly due to poor mobile signal, subject to a maximum of `3 per day. The notification was to take effect from January 1 but has been put on hold till the SC verdict. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COA) has challenged the Delhi HC order declining to set aside the regulation.
Last week, Rohatgi had attacked the telecom companies for running a cartel. He said the telcos had invested just 4% to augment infrastructure in India, whereas their profits had jumped by 48%.
Trai told the court the companies have never agreed to any arrangements it suggested for compensating the consumers. Rohatgi claimed the regulator had invited suggestions from telcos and details were uploaded on its website.
“We suggested the service providers re-credit the time to the consumers for the call drop, we asked them to give free calls, but every time they say it is not feasible,” Rohatgi said.
The AG said a majority of the call drops are due to poor service. “65% of call drops happen due to poor network,” he argued.