The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked Vodafone and Idea cellular to remove its latest tariff plan of Rs 1.30 per minute as it considers the tariff plan to be “discriminatory” since it is applicable only to those subscribers sending an sms asking to be placed under the special tariff plan and this was considered discriminatory by Trai as there would be consumers who did not know how to send an sms.
This plan was introduced by Vodafone and idea cellular after the countries largest mobile operator Bharti Airtel slashed their STD tariff rate to Rs 1.50 per minute which did not have any conditions.
According to resources the two operators have been asked by TRAI to either provide the plan to all the subscribers or revert to the earlier rate of Rs 2.40 per minute.
Vodafone officials said that they have taken off the plan and are working on other ideas to cut the tariff rates. Idea cellular has not responded to any queries.
