Telecom consumers told to be aware of rights

Nellore: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Regional Advisor A Munisekhar informed that the digitalisation of Cable TV network in the country is completed and such digitalisation can provide value added services including broadband for the consumers and the cable operators should have a designated complaint handling and redressal system.

The TRAI conducted Telecom Consumer Outreach programme at a private hotel in the city here on Tuesday and Munisekhar explained about roles and functions of the TRAI Regional Office based at Hyderabad and initiatives taken for protection of telecom consumers. He also explained about the rights and privileges of telecom consumers.

“Prepaid consumers can get itemised usage for calls, SMS, data and value-added services from the service providers for any period in the past 6 months,” he added and said that a tariff plan once offered shall be valid for 6 months and consumers are free to migrate from one plan to another plan without any charge.

Billing complaints should be resolved within four weeks, said Munisekhar. He also said that the service providers will have to offer special plans for roaming subscribers in which they can avail partial free roaming or full free roaming in lieu of payment of fixed charges.

“Request for connection termination is to be completed within 7 days. Customers should not be charged rental or any other charges beyond the period of 7 days of the request made by the customer,” said Munisekhar.

TRAI Regional Joint Advisor G Suresh Reddy, Research Officer PSR Murthy explained in detail about the complaint redressal mechanism, Mobile Number Portability (MNP) and steps taken by the TRAI regarding the unsolicited communications and value-added services. During the programme, TRAI regulations were highlighted.