Consumer in focus: DoT & Trai may dash telcos’ hopes of fixed floor price

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is not in favour of allowing or fixing a floor price for voice or data services offered by telcos as there has been substantial hike in tariffs by the operators in recent months without any corresponding drop in user numbers, senior government officials told The Indian Express.

A final decision on the issue is likely to be taken after the spectrum auction in March. The DoT, however, does not want to be seen taking an anti-consumer stance and therefore may avoid the floor pricing altogether, officials said.

“We have a forbearance model. In the past few months, the data consumption for all players has been very high…pattern is likely to continue now. They (telcos) have raised tariffs also in recent months,” an official said.