TRAI intervenes, asks TATA, RIM to remove Advt

[shan 0]

AFTER blowing the whistle on Reliance Infocomm's illegal routing of long distance calls, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd has now lodged a complaint with the telecom regulator against Tata Teleservices for avoiding payment of Access Deficit Charges by allegedly offering mobile services under the garb of fixed line telephony.

Private cellular operators have also sought the intervention of the regulator in this matter.

In a letter written to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), BSNL has said that Tata Teleservices was enjoying the benefits of a fixed line service operator even as it was offering services called `Walky' which was essentially a limited mobile service.

Fixed line operators are not only exempt from paying ADC but also receive ADC for calls terminating on its network. On the other hand operators offering mobile services are required to pay deficit charges ranging between 30 paise and 80 paise per minute. BSNL has alleged that though Walky was a mobile service, Tata Tele was claiming ADC as if it was an extension of fixed line telephony.

In another letter, the Cellular Operator's Association of India (COAI) has written: "The situation is becoming a severe non-playing field issue vis-à-vis the cellular mobile service providers since the mobile Walky appear to be enjoying landline benefits. Additionally, BSNL is also being severely disadvantaged since they would not receive ADC from the Walky calls."

Mr D.P.S. Seth, Member, TRAI, said that the issue is being examined and a decision would be taken very soon. Tata Tele has been projecting Walky as mobile services at landline rates in its advertisement.

The Tata Teleservices spokesperson, however, said that the company had not received any communication in this regard and was complying with all guidelines as stipulated by the authorities.

[Ganesh 0]

all are "mathematics" (pardon me thats understood by mallus and tamilians)

[rakesh5295 0]

hey can any one tell me what is walky service.

[vb86 0]

its the fixed wireless phone service from tata

[Chirag 5]

all are "mathematics" (pardon me thats understood by mallus and tamilians)

23546[/snapback]

I wud say its all MatheMagic!

Tata started the service after RIM did, still facing such basic issues. somehow TATA has never managed to sell its product in the right manner! Its free talktime thing also never picked up! Wht r its marketing guys doing?

[vb86 0]

January 7, 2005

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New Delhi: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued directives to Tata Teleservices and Reliance Infocomm for withdrawing advertisements for fixed wireless services as 'Walky' and 'Unlimited Cordless' respectively.

The Authority is of the view that referring the fixed wireless phone service as 'Walky' and 'Unlimited Cordless' conveys the impression to potential customers that the facility provided is similar to mobile service when actually fixed wireless services are offered.

The operators have been directed to file a compliance report in this regard with the Authority by January 13.

TRAI has directed the two private operators to withdraw from the market all promotional material, including banners, brochures, information sheets.

The Interconnect Usage Charges and Access Deficit Charge regime provide different treatment for calls from mobile and fixed services, including wireless fixed, it said adding such corrections shall also be made in the relevant content of the website of the operators concerned.

"Whereas it has been brought to the notice of the Authority that Tata Teleservices (Tata Indicom) have advertised their fixed wireless service as Walky with the slogan 'freedom of mobility at landline rates', the TRAI is of the view that the said advertisement with the said slogan is misleading as consumers are led to believe that mobile services are offered when actually fixed wireless services are offered", the directive to Tatas said.

The directive to Reliance Infocomm said "whereas it has been brought to the notice of the Authority that Reliance Infocomm Ltd. is claiming to give 'Unlimited Cordless' in their fixed wireless telephony services, the TRAI is of the view that referring the fixed wireless phone service as Unlimited Cordless conveys the impression to potential customers that the service provided is similar to mobile service when actually fixed wireless services are offered."

[linuxguy 0]

These companies are just out to con the regular user . I know their game plan very well. The samething happened with RIL users. First they advertise 40p/min rates to ANY phone with a 15s pulse. Then other cell ops make noise. TRAI tells RIL to "revise" its rates to pay ADC. Obviously reliance wont pay those ADCs from its own pocket. So it conns the millions of poor Indians. Thus RIL successfully changes its pulse from 15s to 60s and INCREASES its call charges 3x to Rs.1.20/min!!! IMO the samething is going to happen to the poor walky users.