India’s second largest telecom operator, Vodafone has been fined the most for tariff rule violations till date, while Bharti Airtel has been penalized the maximum amount for breaching mobile number portability (MNP) norms. Vodafone has been penalised over Rs.6 lakhs for charging customers on new tariff without informing regulator TRAI in time.
Other companies fined for this include Aircel (Rs 2.3 lakh), Reliance Communications (Rs 2 lakh), Airtel (Rs 50,000), Tikona (Rs 25,000), Loop Mobile (Rs 20,000) and D-Vois broadband (Rs 30,000). These information was given by Telecom Minister Shri.Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Rajya Sabha.
As per TRAI guidelines, all tariffs are to be reported to TRAI within 7 working days from the date of implementation. It also provides for financial disincentive of Rs 5,000 per day for each day delay subject to a maximum of Rs 2 lakhs.
Companies fined for non-reporting of Tariff change in time
- Vodafone (Fined Rs 6 lakhs)
- Aircel (Rs 2.3 lakhs)
- Reliance Communications (Rs 2 lakhs)
- Airtel (Rs 50,000)
- Tikona (Rs 25,000)
- Loop Mobile (Rs 20,000)
- D-Vois broadband (Rs 30,000)
With regard to mobile number portability (MNP), which allows subscribers to change their service providers while retaining the same number, all the telecom operators, except state-run firms BSNL and MTNL, have been found to have violated rules.
The maximum penalty for contravention of MNP regulation has been imposed on Airtel (Rs 4.6 crore), followed by Aircel (Rs 1.57 crore).
Companies fined for violating MNP rules
- Airtel (Fined Rs 4.6 crore)
- Aircel (Fined Rs 4.6 crore)
- Vodafone (Fined Rs 4.6 crore)
- Idea (Fined Rs 54 lakhs)
- Tata Teleservices (Fined Rs 19 lakhs)
- Loop Mobile (Fined Rs 2.41 lakhs)
- Loop Mobile (Fined Rs 2.41 lakhs)
- Reliance Communication, including Reliance Telecom (Fined Rs 55,000)
- Uninor (Fined Rs 12,500)
- Videocon including Quadrant (Fined Rs 29,000)
State run telecom operators – BSNL & MTNL always provides services to people in the most transparent manner. From the above figures it is very much clear that, they are always working as per the rules and regulations laid down by the government and regulator TRAI.
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