Reliance Jio upset over TRAI's IUC review, says will harm users

Reliance Jio is upset with Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) over its IUC review. Mukesh Ambani-led telco says decision will harm users, punish efficient telcos and reward defaulters. Jio also says regulator's consultation paper is neir warranted r sustainable.

"This retrogre step" in form of present Consultation Paper "is neir warranted r sustainable", Jio said.

Jio alleged that any deferment of sunset clause for inter-operator termination charges will end up rewarding "designed defaulters" who have deliberately stayed away from new and efficient techlogies. Jio has written to TRAI saying present Consultation Paper "subsidises and incentivises telecom service providers who, by design and astute planning, do t want to shift to IP based techlogy". 

'Neir warranted r sustainable'

Jio has also questioned TRAI's jurisdiction and reasons to tinker with original schedule for implementation of zero termination charge regime from January 1, 2020. Launching a scathing attack on TRAI, Jio said thing prevented incumbent operators from switching ir networks to efficient VoLTE all this while.

"Unfortunately, this consultation process is an inducement and acts as an incentive to such calculated and planned asymmetry, and  it  has become apparent and evident that securing termination charges has become an unfettered source  of  income  (and  t  a  means for cost recovery) for se operators," Jio said in its letter dated October 10.

Jio said charging a termination cost would perhaps be justified by two purposes, cost recovery and dressing inevitable prevalence of asymmetry in traffic, and ted that since neir of se purposes exists any deferment of regime will inflict immense harm to subscriber base and causes ermous dam to TSPs who have deployed efficient techlogies.

" data recorded by TRAI in Consultation Paper reveals that default on part of se telecom operators is t only a designed default, but also intended to maximize collection of unfettered revenues through termination charges," Jio said. 

tably, Jio said TRAI's consultation paper does t dress termination charges payable after deline if date for its implementation is indeed deferred. 

"It appears that process initiated by present Consultation Paper would simply defer date of implementation of BAK regime and terminating charge would remain at 6 p/min, which would be wholly irrational," it said.

Wher termination charge from January 1, 2020, should be 6 paise or less has t been factored in consultation process. Jio said issue should be included to current deliberations, should TRAI still consider need to pursue consultation process.

(With PTI inputs)