(a) whether Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has evaluated the cost escalation in mobile tariff and the Government proposes to slash down cellular call charges;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to implement new National Telecom Policy (NTP) to provide free roaming services and enforce uniform call rates across the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the present status of the proposal?
THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a)& (b) 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 areas of their operation. Tariffs are offered by service providers taking into account several factors including input costs, level of competition and other commercial considerations.
(c) & (d) In the context of decline in costs and one of the objectives of the National Telecom Policy, 2012, is to work towards One Nation – Free Roaming throughout the country, the tariffs for national roaming service were reviewed by TRAI in the year 2013. After analyzing the comments received from the stakeholders, a view was taken by TRAI that fully free national roaming across all the tariff schemes is not practicable at the juncture.