TRAI rebukes Airtel for violating tariff transparency

Bharti Airtel, India’s major telco, is accused of offering certain segmented tariffs that were not informed to TRAI before being proposed to the subscriber base. 

Owing to this discrepancy on part of the company TRAI has sent a notice which should be replied within 10 days by Bharti Airtel. TRAI has also asked the company to present a circle-wise data of the consumers who have opted for the given tariff and have benefitted from the same. 

Earlier in February, the regulator had written to Bharti Airtel regarding the issue, after it had received complaints from operators and consumers about 20-odd segmented tariffs.  Airtel delayed its reply and alleged that other operators were also following the same practice. Airtel has acknowledge the receipt of the notice and said that the matter is pending with the TDSAT (Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal). 

As per the norms stated by TRAI, no operators should present segregated or segmented offers to its subscribers to retain them without displaying the tariffs on the company's website. 

On Friday, the stock opened at Rs. 418 per share and touched a high/low of Rs. 426.70/415 and closed at Rs. 418.20.