Reliance Jio allege Trai move to review IUC sabotages Digital India vision

Reliance Jio has alleged that the move to review the interconnection charges by regulator Trai is not only arbitrary, unwarranted and anti-poor but it will also adversely affect investor’s confidence and sabotage Prime Minister’s vision for Digital India. The latest entrant in telecom space also said that the move protects vested interests of some old operators. “It is unfortunate that instead of profiting the poor and marginalised sections of Indian society, the Consultation Paper has chosen to help profiteers in the telecom business,” Jio said in response to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai’s) move to review the interconnect usage charges (IUC).

The IUC were scheduled to become zero after implementation of ‘bill and keep’ (BAK) regime from January 2020 onwards but now the regulator has decided to review the timeline. The IUC charges currently stand at 6 paisa per minute for mobile to mobile calls. Jio said in its