TRAI plans to reduce interconnect charges, voice calls to get cheaper

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is looking forward to cutting the fee which telecom service providers pay each other while making calls from one operator to another, thereby causing consumers to pay less per calls.

The regulatory body is mulling on decreasing the Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) from 14 paise per minute to 10 paise per minute for wireless to wireless local and national long distance calls, a Times of India report said.

In a consultation paper released by TRAI in 2016, Consultation Paper on Review of Interconnection Usage Charges, the body sought review from various stakeholders about such charges in this matter.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha MP, Prem Singh Chandramuja had observed, “TRAI should clarify why it did not implement 'Bill and Keep' regime as per its submission made before Supreme Court? Consumers have been unnecessarily burdened by paying extra. TRAI should immediately withdraw 14 paise IUC and benefit should be passed on to consumers."