TRAI wants explanation for Reliance Jio 4G Happy New Year offer

Looks like TRAI has finally taken Airtel's petition seriously. In a December 20 letter, the regulator, which is still examining the new plan by Reliance Jio, asked why the offer of free data under the promotional scheme should not be treated as “predatory.”

Earlier, the bench of TDSAT had directed Jio counsel present for the hearing to be impleaded as a party to the case. TRAI on the other hand submitted that it needs 10 more days to take a decision.

TRAI has asked for an explaination on why Reliance Jio is to continue Happy New Year promo offer till March 2017 and how is it different than its latter offerings. Airtel had recently filed a 25-page petition before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). The petetion also mentioned that Reliance Jio's promo offers have caused 'significant prejudice and day-to-day loss'.

Airtel feels the extension of offers beyond December 3 is inconsistent with the “90 days” directions of TRAI. It says, “The TRAI further without affording any reasoning baldly, cryptically and in a non-transparent manner in violation of Section 11(4) of the TRAI Act concluded that the Tariff Plans offered by the said TSP are not non-compliant with IUC and are not predatory and discriminatory at present. The impugned decision of TRAI is thus bad in law and deserves to be quashed.”

It is said that TRAI has also asked Jio to give an estimated month-wise projection of the number of subscribers that are expected to be added till March 31, 2017.