(a)whether most of the mobile service provider companies have sold connections to a large number of people under the garb life long free incoming calls whereas
validity of licence of these companies is only for 15 to 20 years;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c)whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any action against these companies; and
(d)if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)
(a) to (d)The Telecommunication Tariff Order (TTO) issued by the Telecom Regulatory
of India (TRAI) provides flexibility to telecom service providers to fix tariffs. Currently
telecom operators are offering a number of alternative tariff plans targeted at different
classes of subscribers. In the months of December, 2005 and January, 2006 most of the
service providers implemented the tariff plans under the name and style of life time
validity wherein in lieu of an upfront payment the subscribers are being offered life long
validity subject to certain conditions. Such plans would be suitable for subscribers who
would like to have longer validity without having to pay recurring fixed monthly charges.
After a consultation process, TRAI has prescribed regulatory conditions through the
Telecommunication Tariff (Forty Third Amendment) Order dated 21.03.2006, which inter-
alia mandated:-
(i)The operators to continue to provide service in respect of Lifetime Scheme as long as
they have permission to provide such telecom service under current license or renewed
license;
(ii)Hike in any item of tariff during the specified validity period is prohibited; and
(iii)The service provider shall inform the subscribers of the month and year of expiry of
his current license.