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"Examining the plans thoroughly and giving different choices to consumers, would be in common interest. More so, because there is going to be drastic regime change in the tariffs, unlike in previous cases", Dr Seth said.

NEW DELHI, March 28

THE Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has ruled out any further amendments to the regulations on tariff and interconnection usage charges (IUC) that are to be implemented from May 1.

Addressing a press conference here in order to clarify the doubts that have appeared following its decision to reschedule the implementation date by a month, Dr D.P.S. Seth, Member, TRAI, noted that this was done so that consumers could be properly informed about the alternate tariff plans and there was no political pressure of any kind.

``We have received various alternate tariff plans from five different operators both from the public and private sector. One operator filed as many as 16 alternate packages that would be offered to the customer. However, many of these packages do not confirm to the IUC regulation, hence we have sought clarifications and need time to examine them and ensure that all plans are compliant and non-discriminatory,'' he said.

Since it was expected that the alternate tariff packages would conform to the regulations, the authority did not consider it necessary to set any deadline for filing the same. However, now a deadline of April 3 had been set, so that there was enough time to examine them and for the consumers to be informed, he noted. Although the regulations were issued in January, we got the alternate tariff plans from the operators only recently.

"At least ten days are required for the consumers to be suitably informed of the changes. It is the end of March and there is not time to inform consumers. More so, because there is going to be drastic regime change in the tariffs, unlike in other previous cases".

Asked if the authority could have sought implementation of the standard packages from April 1 while examining the alternate plans simultaneously, Dr Seth noted that this would have led to more confusion among the consumers and the industry.

Since it was just a matter of a month, it would not make any significant difference either to industry or consumers. Examining the plans thoroughly and giving different choices to consumers, would be in common interest, he said.

Pointing out that the legal cases in the Telecom Dispute Settlement Tribunal (TSDSAT) were not linked to the move, he said that the two were completely different issues.

The decision to put off the implementation of revised tariffs by a month, as announced on Thursday, would have two implications. While for the landline customers it would come as breather, for the mobile customers, they will have to wait a little longer for incoming calls from landlines to be made totally free.

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