The telecom tribunal on Thursday did not stay Reliance Jio’s free promotional offer, but asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to re-examine issues relating to the approval granted to the operator to continue with the freebies.
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) in its order has asked TRAI to apprise it of the ‘outcome and findings of the examination’ within two weeks.
TDSAT last week had reserved the order on an interim appeal seeking a stay on Reliance Jio’s free offer after hearing all the parties concerned, including TRAI and operators Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular.
In its interim appeal, Airtel had sought a stay on TRAI’s approval to RJio to continue with the free services. It had also sought a direction to the regulator to produce all the records related to its decision.
The appeal also sought to restrain RJio from providing its consumers the zero tariff plan and ‘promotional’ plans.
RJio had launched the inaugural free voice and data plan in September last year, and in December, extended the freebies till March 31.
Following this, the existing players such as Airtel and Idea moved TDSAT against TRAI for letting the new operator continue the free promotional offer beyond the stipulated 90 days.
The operators criticised the regulator for being a ‘mute spectator’ to the alleged violations.
TRAI, on January 31, had held that RJio’s free voice calling and data plans were not violation of any regulatory guidelines. It had further said its examination had revealed that the ‘Happy New Year Offer’ launched by RJio on December 4, 2016, was distinct from its earlier Jio ‘Welcome Offer’ and could not be treated as an extension of the promotional offer as the benefits under both differed.
Meanwhile, RJio recently had announced that it will start charging for its mobile services from April 1.