Question : Telecom Companies

(a) whether Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has prohibited differential tariff for different services and has issued orders to enjoy equal price for accessing all kinds of data online;

(b) if so, the detailed guidelines issued by TRAI in this regard;

(c) whether TRAI has given any respite to the consumers who have opted different schemes of telecom companies and have paid for it;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether any penalty is likely to be imposed on telecom companies for violating these guidelines; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the extent to which net neutrality is equal to all in the country?

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

(a) & (b) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued “Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariff for Data services Regulations, 2016 on 8th February, 2016 which inter-alia has mandated the following:-

(i) No service provider shall offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for data service on the basis of content.
(ii) No service provider shall enter into any arrangement, agreement or contract, by whatever name called, with any person, natural or legal, that has the effect of discriminatory tariffs for data services being offered or charged by the service provider for the purpose of evading the prohibition in this regulation.

(iii) Reduced tariff for accessing or providing emergency services, or at times of public emergency has been permitted.
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(c) & (d) The prohibition of discriminatory tariffs for data services regulations, 2016 shall not affect any packs, plans or vouchers with unexpired validity subscribed by a consumer before the date of commencement of these regulations, provided that no such packs plans, pack or voucher shall be valid beyond a period of six months from the date of commencement of these regulations.

(e) & (f) As per the “Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations, 2016” issued on 8th February, 2016, the Authority may direct the service provider to withdraw such tariff and also order such service provider to pay, by way of financial disincentive, an amount of rupees fifty thousand for each day of contravention, subject to a maximum of rupees fifty lakh, provided that no order for payment of any amount by way of financial disincentive shall be made by the Authority unless the service provider has been given a reasonable opportunity of representing against the contravention of the regulation.

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