TRAI quizzes telcos on tariff hike
August 25th, 2011 - 5:56 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Thursday said it had sought clarification from telecom operators on their recent move to hike call rates.
“We will examine what are the reasons they hiked (tariff)… and whether there is any substance in what the companies are claiming,” TRAI chairman J.S. Sarma told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.
Bharti Airtel had last month announced a 20-25 percent hike in its tariffs in selected regions across the country. It was followed by Idea Cellular, Vodafone Essar and Reliance Communications.
According to Airtel, continuously declining margins, high auction prices for 3G and BWA (broadband wireless access), constrained spectrum and rural roll-out aspirations led them to hike their tariffs.
Airtel’s move gave a break to the cut-throat competition among telecom operators offering dirt cheap tariffs.
With the entry of new players and the ensuing tariff wars, the high priced bidding for 3G auctions, which saw top operators like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications coughing up Rs.12,295 crore and Rs.8,583 crore, respectively, had led to margins being hammered.
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- No hike in tariff: MTNL - Aug 03, 2011
- Idea, Vodafone end one paisa tariff - Jul 28, 2011
- Telecom stocks soar after Airtel hikes tariff - Jul 25, 2011
- Fresh 2G auction: Consumer may be spared large hike - Feb 19, 2012
- GSM players to contest TRAI theory of minor tariff hike - May 07, 2012
- All should be allowed to bid in 2G auction: Bharti Airtel - Feb 08, 2012
- Operators urge Sibal to auction total spectrum, reduce reserve price - Apr 27, 2012
- Sibal to launch Bharti Airtel's 4G services Tuesday - Apr 09, 2012
- Bharti Airtel to launch 4G services in Kolkata - Apr 03, 2012
- Rahul Khullar to take charge of TRAI Monday - May 13, 2012
- One-time levy won't hurt operators' profits, asserts TRAI - May 14, 2010
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