Question : ROAMING ON MOBILE CALLS AND SMSS

(a) whether the Government proposes to slash ceiling or maximum rate that telecom operator can charge for STD calls on roaming and also on SMS as recommended by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI);

(b) if so, the details thereof and whether the Government has assessed its repercussions;

(c) if so, the details thereof and whether Cellular Operators Association of India has opposed this move and asked to leave the revision of roaming rates to the market forces;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the number of telecom operators that have agreed to follow the TRAI guidelines and date by which these charges are likely to take effect?

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

(a) to (e) Through Draft Telecommunication Tariff (60th Amendment) Order, 2015 dated 27.02.2015, TRAI proposed reduction in ceiling tariffs for voice calls and outgoing SMS while on national roaming and sought comments of the stakeholders.

In response, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), telecom service providers and a few other stakeholders furnished their comments. After examining the comments of the stakeholders and further analysis, TRAI has made the following changes in the tariff regime for national roaming through the Telecommunication Tariff (60th Amendment) Order, 2015 dated 09.04.2015, which will come into effect from 01.05.2015.

Reduced the ceilings tariff for voice calls and SMS while on national roaming:

The table given below presents the reduction in tariff for national roaming service.

 Item	Existing	Ceiling tariff as	Percentage	ceiling	per TTO (60th	reduction	tariff	Amendment), 2015	w.e.f 01.05.2015 Outgoing local	Re.1.00 per	Re.0.80 per minute	20% voice call	minute Outgoing long	Re.1.50 per	Re.1.15 per minute	23% distance	minute (inter-circle) voice call Incoming voice call	Re.0.75 per	Re.0.45 per minute	40%	minute Outgoing local SMS	Rs.1.00 per SMS	Rs.0.25 per SMS	75% Outgoing long distance (inter circle) SMS	Re.1.50 per SMS	Re.0.38 per SMS	75%