Question : Increase in Tariff by MTNL

(a) whether MTNL has recently increased tariff of existing plans of various services;

(b) if so, the details of such increase, service-wise and the reasons thereof;

(c) whether MTNL has not informed their existing customers about such increase and the PSU is not providing details of tariff being charged by them under various sub-heads in telephone bills;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen MTNL to compete with other telephone operators?

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

(a) & (b) Tariffs were revised by MTNL, based on the market dynamics from time to time, keeping in view the provision of best value propositions to the subscribers of different profiles. Accordingly the rates were revised by changing the pulse duration/ per minute call rate. It is also submitted here that as per the existing tariff framework, tariff for telecommunication access service is under forbearance except for National Roaming and Rural Fixed Line Services. The service providers have the flexibility to decide various tariff components for different service area of their operation.
Tariffs are offered by service providers taking into account several factors including input cost, level of competition and other commercial considerations. MTNL has uploaded all tariff plans on its website.

(c)& (d) The applicable tariff protection is provided to subscribers as per TRAI guidelines. The information regarding such tariff is uploaded on MTNL websites, and is also reported to TRAI as per regulatory requirements.

(e) MTNL is taking various steps to enhance revenues through investments in infrastructure projects to strengthen its network, focus on customer care and service delivery to improve quality of service and increase its market share. In addition, MTNL has taken various steps to improve its mobile network. The details of these steps are:

• Monitoring of the Fault Repair Service System.
• Regular Radio Frequency (RF) optimization tests.
• Free local calls from MTNL land line to all operators in Delhi and Mumbai between 10.00 p.m. to 7.00 a.m.


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