INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
regulator TRAI or Telecom Regulatory Authority of India for issuing a fresh consultation paper on seeking opinion of industry on the
extension of existing Interconnect usage charge (IUC) regime beyond 2020
telecom networks.In its response to the TRAI discussion paper on the same last month, Jio said, "The consultation paper aids and abets
sabotage of the Prime Minister's Digital India mission because it protects and perpetuates the vested interests of certain incumbent
telecom operators who do want their large body of 2G customers to forever remain digitally disempowered and deprived of the fruits of the
Digital Infrastructure, it said.It said incumbent telecom companies are deliberately not ending the outdated 2G networks and TRAI is helping
them."The consultation paper is anti-consumerBy deliberately refusing to end their 2G services and upgrade their networks to 4G, these
incumbent operators are exploiting their 2G customers
It alleged through their 2G network, they are charging high rates for voice calls - which Jio offers free to all its 4G-only customers
The consultation paper wants India to remain technologically stagnant and backward," Jio wrote.The comments further add that "it was decided
to move to the BAK(Bill and Keep) regime with effect from January 1, 2020
The consultation paper contradicts the authority's own approach and decisions in the past."BAK is the replacement of IUC and while Jio
wants BAK, incumbents want continuation of IUC."The consultation paper dated 18th September 2019 is Bad in Law", Jio said."The present
Consultation Process violates the principles of regulatory predictability and RJIL's legitimate expectations
consultation process has been initiated with a pre-determined mind without considering all relevant factors and details pertaining to
We understand that, in case the Authority has accepted that there is traffic asymmetry, it is without analysis of the available data and
understanding the reasons for such calculated asymmetry, Jio said."The Consultation paper seeks views on deferment of date of implementation
of BAK regime due to perceived asymmetry of traffic, at present
However, the Authority itself decided in the IUC Regulations 2017 and soundly explained in the explanatory memorandum to the Regulations
the subsequent paragraphs 39 to 44 of these comments, RJIL has analysed the true picture behind the apparent traffic symmetry and it can be
be implemented has already fructified and the scheduled date to commence w.e.f
issued to address traffic asymmetry, but to address the claimed financial stress of one or two operators at the cost of the interests of the
against public interest and bad in law
It is also worthwhile to submit that the present trend indicates that traffic asymmetry is expected to be reversed in a few months and the
present receivers are expected to become payers, hence, deferring the implementation of the BAK regime is not going to steer any operator
away from the purported financial stress," Jio wrote.RJIL has so far paid nearly Rs 13,500 crore as net IUC charges to the other
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