core sector communique

TRAI Issues Amendment to Telecommunication Tariff Order, 1999

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ( TRAI ) issued the Telecommunication Tariff (Fifty Third Amendment) Order (TTO), which reviews Processing Fee on Talktime Top-ups and tariff for Premium Rate Services, in New Delhi today. Currently, the ceiling on Processing Fee is Rs.3/- in respect of top-up denominations of Rs.20/- and above and Rs.2/- for top-up denominations below Rs.20/-. The Authority has undertaken a review through a consultation process and has decided to rationalize the structure of the Processing Fee, in order to provide relief to prepaid subscribers recharging with lower denomination top-up vouchers. The 53rd Amendment to the TTO has mandated that the Processing Fee levied on top-up vouchers will not exceed 10% of Maxium Retail Price or three rupees whichever is less. The TTO 51st Amendment had specified ceiling tariff for calls made and SMS sent to participate in contests and competitions and voting. Keeping in view the difficulties in implementing the ceiling tariff and feedback received during the consultation process, the Authority has decided to keep the tariff for such services under forbearance. The TTO 53rd Amendment, inter alia, gives effect to this decision of the Authority. The Telecommunication Tariff (Fifty Third Amendment) Order has already been placed on TRAI’s website www.trai.gov.in.