Big decision by TRAI to protect you from mobile bill shocks - All details here

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has taken a major decision to empower the consumer and ensure protection of consumer from bill shocks. On Wednesday, TRAI issued "Telecom Consumers Protection (Eleventh Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (7 of 2020)."

With respect to International Mobile Roaming (IMR), TRAI  has decided that by default the IMR Services should be kept inactive and be activated only on request from the consumer. The big decision by TRAI has been taken to prevent unintentional usage and consequent levy of charges.

TRAI said, "With the enactment of this amendment, a new chapter is added in the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations, 2012 providing the regulatory framework for International Mobile Roaming Services." TRAI added, "The amendment is another step of TRAI in empowering the consumers and ensuring protection of consumer from bill shocks."

"The amendment has been carried out after an elaborate consultation process wherein a consultation paper was placed on the website of TRAI for comments and counter comments of the stakeholders. After receipt of comments and counter comments, the TRAI organised Open House Discussion (OHD) through the video conferencing mode. The online OHD provided stakeholders another opportunity to participate in the consultation exercise and share their valuable views," TRAI said.
Further, TRAI said, "International Mobile Roaming (IMR), which allows customer of a mobile operator in one country to obtain service (voice, SMS or data) from an operator in another country using same handset and mobile number in one area of telecom services which is characterised by significant instance of bill shocks."

"Accordingly, the consultation paper discussed various measures which can be prescribed to eliminate or significantly reduce the instance of bill shocks. Based on the inputs obtained from stakeholders during the consultation process, the Authority decided to enhance the requirements of provision of information relating to various aspects of IMR Services viz., selection of tariff, data usage, availing services in an area which is not covered under the subscribed tariff etc. Apart from the same, to prevent unintentional usage consequent levy of charges, the Authority has decided that by default the IMR Services should be kept inactive and be activated only on request from the consumer. All the aforesaid changes have been included in the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations, 2012 and shall come into effect within 30 days of publication of the same in Official Gazette," TRAI said in a statement.