Network OperatorsVodafone approaches Delhi HC to take down TRAI's termination charge regulations

Vodafone approaches Delhi HC to take down TRAI’s termination charge regulations

Vodafone India has decided to approach the Delhi High Court in order to contest TRAI’s Telecommunication Interconnect Usage Charges Regulations. The law fixes termination charges for wireline to wireless at 0 paise and wireless to wireless at Rs 0.14 per minute.

The Telecommunication Interconnect Usage Charges Regulations came into effect in February 2015. Vodafone has been refused interim relief from the law as TRAI is yet to make it arguments before the Delhi High Court. The bench, composed of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, ordered the authority to file its answer within 4 weeks.

Vodafone

As per PTI, the next hearing is set to take place on January 19 2016. Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) or termination charges refer to the fee paid by one telecom operator to another when a subscriber calls someone outside their own network. Vodafone is of the opinion that the termination charge cannot be fixed at 0 paise since costs are incurred when connecting calls.

K Viswanathan, the senior advocate for Vodafone, said the new system is illegal and in gross violation of the principles of natural justice as it goes beyond the functions of the TRAI Act. He argued that the Mobile Termination Charges (MTC) and Fixed Termination Charges (FTC) did not come under the government body’s jurisdiction.

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He further pointed out that TRAI’s 2001 regulations clearly stated the interconnection charges should be fixed on a cost basis in order to pay operators for the work done to terminate calls on its side. Vodafone therefore believes the new tariff of 0 paise for wireline to wireless and 0.14 per minute for wireless to wireless is in contradiction of this earlier law.

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