Hutch, Idea to offer uniform tariff

Telecom regulator TRAI has asked Hutch and Idea Cellular to stop charging higher rates for calls made to the mobile networks of state-owned BSNL and MTNL as compared to the same made to private GSM operators.

Such differential rates created a situation where Idea and Hutch subscribers had to pay higher charges for calling the MTNL and BSNL mobile GSM network, TRAI said in a statement, adding the Tariff order clearly states that no service provider shall, in any manner, discriminate between subscriber of the same class.

These two operators in their tariff schemes had classified subscribers who terminate calls on private GSM networks as a separate class of subscribers, for the purpose of applying differential tariff.

Such classification is arbitrary and inconsistent with the provisions of telecom tariff orders, the regulator said.

Following TRAI's intervention, Idea and Hutch have withdrawn the differential tariffs and have reported compliance to the authority.

The schemes' whose differential tariffs portions under question were Idea Cellular's 99 paise per minute for STD calls to any GSM mobile, except BSNL and MTNL, anywhere across the country, for its pre-paid customers in Delhi and the NCR region.

Similarly, Hutch's 75 paise a minute STD rates were applicable only to private GSM players barring calls to MTNL and BSNL GSM networks.

When contacted, D P S Seth, member, TRAI told PTI,  "The differential tariff is still allowed to operators but classifying certain category (like PSUs) for the same class of subscribers is discriminatory, which can not be allowed."