Trai proposes wireless internet data packs of 365-day validity

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has proposed to amend the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations, 2012 (TCPR), which allows telecom service providers to offer special tariff voucher (STV) with ''data only'' benefits for a 90-day period to now offer such STVs of 365 days' validity.

Trai today released the Draft Telecom Consumers Protection (Tenth Amendment) Regulations, 2016 for public consultation, inviting comments of stakeholders.

The present regulatory regime governed by TCPR-2012 allows telecom service providers to offer data services in the form of special tariff voucher (STV) either exclusively or in combination with other tariff items with a maximum permitted validity of 90 days. Trai said it has received requests seeking longer validity for data-packs (ie STVs with only data benefits) primarily to address concerns of marginal consumers of wireless internet who prefer lower denomination data packs with longer validity.

Trai said after examining various aspects of the issue, it felt that a longer validity of 365 days instead of the current 90 days could be beneficial for marginal consumers, first-time users and price-sensitive consumers.

The proposed amendment to the TCPR envisages that an STV with ''data only'' benefits would be allowed to be offered for 365 days' validity instead of maximum 90 days allowed now.