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TRAI tells cellular operators to refund extra charges

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Thursday directed the private cellular operators to refund the extra money charged arising due to migration of package from fixed licence fee to revenue sharing and non-implementation of calling party pays (CPP) regime.

The refund would be applicable to subscribers in metros and circles for all types of tariff packages by different cellular operators, TRAI said in a statement.

"This is on account of reduction in licence fee following the migration of cellular operators from a fixed licence fee regime to revenue sharing regime as per the NTP 1999," TRAI said.

The refund due has been provided both for fixed (rental) and variable charges (airtime charges) paid by the standard tariff subscribers and through airtime charge for other subscribers.

The initial refund from August 1999 for standard tariff subscribers has been worked out to be Rs 178 per month on rentals and Rs 1.35 per minute on airtime charges.

From November 1999 onwards, the refund for these subscribers take account of the amount already refunded or the reduction in tariffs implemented from February 2000.

Post-licence fee reduction, the rentals and airtime charges on the basis of costs recognised in telecommunications Tariff order 1999, has worked out to Rs 422 per month for rentals and Rs 4.65 per minute for airtime charge.

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