Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & Information Technology

20-December-2012 16:10 IST

The tariff for Nation Roaming Services was last specified by the Authority vide Telecommunication Tariff Order (44th Amendment) dated the 24th January, 2007. The regimes governing some of the cost components which formed part of the national roaming charges have changed since that time. The Access Deficit Charges regime has been phased out in 2008 and termination charges lowered from Rs.0.30 to Rs.0.20 per minute in the year 2009. The National Telecom Policy – 2012, as one of its strategies, has mentioned review of roaming charges with the ultimate objective of removing the roaming charges across the nation. Keeping in view the above factors, the Authority has decided to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing tariff framework for National Roaming Services.

Through the Pre-consultation Paper released today, the Authority has sought inputs from stakeholders on the broad framework of tariff for National Roaming Services so as to enable the Authority to prepare a detailed comprehensive Consultation Paper. The Pre-Consultation seeks views of stakeholders on various aspects of National Roaming Services like the cost components to be considered, the manner of recovery of cost in case incoming calls are to be made free, tariff for video calls and SMS while roaming, need for permitting Special Tariff Vouchers for roaming subscribers etc.

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MV/RK

National roaming tariff review seeks stakeholder inputs on cost components, SMS/video tariffs and roaming voucher options A regulatory review of national roaming charges has been initiated due to changes in cost regimes and policy direction. The Authority released a Pre Consultation Paper to gather stakeholder inputs to inform a detailed Consultation Paper, seeking views on cost components to include in roaming tariffs, cost recovery if incoming calls are free, tariff treatment for roaming video calls and SMS, and the role or regulation of Special Tariff Vouchers for roaming subscribers.