In exercise of the powers conferred by section 36, read with subclauses i and v of clause b of subsection

jftLVªh laö Mhö ,yö&33004@99 REGD. NO. D. L.-33004/99 vlk/kj.k EXTRAORDINARY Hkkx III—[k.M 4 PART III—Section 4 izkf/dkj ls izdkf'kr PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY la- 329] ubZ fnYyh] 'kqØokj] vxLr 19] 2016@Jko.k 28] 1938 No. 329] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2016/SRAVANA 28, 1938 Hkkjrh; nwjlapkj fofu;ked izkf/kdj.k vf/klwpuk ubZ fnYyh] 19 vxLr] 2016 nwjlapkj miHkksDrk laj{k.k ¼nloka la'kks/ku½ fofu;e] 2016 ¼2016 dk 6½ Lka- 301&7¼2½@2015&,Q,.MbZ,.—Hkkjrh; nwjlapkj fofu;ked izkf/kdj.k vf/kfu;e] 1997 ¼1997 dk 24oka½ dh /kkjk 11 dh mi&/kkjk ¼1½ ds [kaM ¼[k½ ds mi&[kaM ¼i½ vkSj ¼v½ ds lkFk ifBr /kkjk 36 ds varxZr izkf/kdj.k dks ikzIr 'kfDr;kas dk iz;ksx djrs gq,] Hkkjrh; nwjlapkj fofu;ked izkf/kdj.k] nwjlapkj miHkksDrk laj{k.k fofu;e] 2012 ¼2012 dk 2½ eas la'kks/ku djus ds fy, ,rn~}kjk fuEufyf[kr fofu;e cukrk gS] uker%& 1.(cid:32) (1) bu fofu;eksa dks ^^nwjlapkj miHkksDrk lja {k.k ¼nloka la'kks/ku½ fofu;e] 2016^^ dgk tk,xk( (2) ;s fofu;e] ljdkjh jkti= esa izdk'ku dh frfFk ls izo`Ùk gkasxsA 2.(cid:32) nwjlapkj miHkksDrk laj{k.k fofu;e] 2012 ¼blds Ik'pkr] ftls ewy fofu;e dgk x;k gS½ ds [kaM ¼Fk½ eas ^^uCcs fnu ls vf/kd vof/k ds fy, ugha^^ 'kCnksa vkSj blds uhps fn, x, ijarqdksa dks gVk;k tk,xk( 3.(cid:32) ewy fofu;eksa ds fofu;e 4 esa,— (d) mi&fofu;e ¼2½ esa [kaM ¼x½ ds mi&[kaM (iii) eas fuEufyf[kr mi&[kaM izfrLFkkfir fd;k tk,xk] uker%— “(iii) okmpj dh oSfyfMVh vof/k dk Li"V mYys[k gksuk pkfg, tks uCcs fnu ls vf/kd ugha gksxh% Ck’krsZ ;g fd lsok iznkrk flQZ MsVk ds fy, okmpj dh is'kd'k dj ldrs gSa ftldh oS/krk vof/k rhu lkS iSalB fnukas ls vf/kd ugha gksxh% 4075 GI/2016 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC. 4] Ck’krsZ vkxs ;g Hkh fd lkr fnuksa ls vf/kd dh oS/krk okys ,l,e,l ;k MsVk ds fy, fo'ks"k VSfjQ okmpj] vuqlwph&I eas fufnZ"V izfØ;k ds vuqlkj miHkksDrk dh Li"V lgefr izkIr djus ds ckn] uohd`r fd, tk ldrs gSa vkSj vuqlwph&II eas fufnZ"V izfØ;k ds vuqlkj] miHkksDrk ds vuqjks/k ij fdlh Hkh le; fuf"Ø; ¼fM,DVhosV½ fd, tk ldrs gSa% Ck’krsZ vkSj Hkh fd vxj fo'ks"k VSfjQ okmpj ds VSfjQ la'kksf/kr fd, x, gSa] rks budk uohuhdj.k ugha fd;k tk,xkA lq/khj xqIrk] Lfpo [िव(cid:6980)ापन-III/4/असा./215(142)] fVIIk.kh 1% ewy fofu;e] vf/klwpuk la[;k 308&05@2011&D;wvks,l fnukad 06 tuojh] 2012 ds rgr Hkkjr ds jkti=] vlk/kkj.k] Hkkx&III] [kaM 4 esa fnukad 06 tuojh] 2012 dks izdkf’kr fd;k x;kA fVIIk.kh 2% ewy fofu;eksa dks vf/klwpuk la[;k 308&05@2011&D;wvks,l ds rgr la’kksf/kr fd;k x;k rFkk fnukad 11 tuojh] 2012 dks Hkkjr ds jkti=] vlk/kkj.k] Hkkx&III] [kaM 4 esa izdkf’kr gqvkA fVIIk.kh 3 % ewy fofu;eksa dks vf/klwpuk la[;k 308&05@2011&D;wvks,l ds rgr iqu% la’kks/ku fd;k x;k rFkk fnukad 21 Qjojh] 2012 dks Hkkjr ds jkti=] vlk/kkj.k] Hkkx&III] [kaM 4 esa izdkf’kr gqvkA fVIIk.kh 4 ewy fofu;eksa dks vf/klwpuk la[;k 308&05@2011&D;wvks,l ds rgr iqu% la’kksf/kr fd;k x;k rFkk fnukad 07 ekpZ] 2012 dks Hkkjr ds jkti=] vlk/kkj.k] Hkkx&III] [kaM 4 esa izdkf’kr gqvkA fVIIk.kh 5 % ewy fofu;eksa dks vf/klwpuk la[;k 308&05@2011&D;wvks,l ds rgr iqu% la’kksf/kr fd;k x;k rFkk fnukad 22 vDrwcj] 2012 dks Hkkjr ds jkti=] vlk/kkj.k] Hkkx&III ] [kaM 4 esa izdkf’kr gqvkA fVIIk.kh 6 % ewy fofu;eksa dks vf/klwpuk la[;k 308&05@2011&D;wvks,l ds rgr iqu% la’kksf/kr fd;k x;k rFkk fnukad 27 uoacj] 2012 dks Hkkjr ds jkti=] vlk/kkj.k] Hkkx&III] [kaM 4 esa izdkf’kr gqvkA fVIIk.kh 7 % ewy fofu;eksa dks vf/klwpuk la[;k 308&05@2011&D;wvks,l ds rgr iqu% la’kksf/kr fd;k x;k rFkk fnukad 21 Qjojh] 2013 dks Hkkjr ds jkti=] vlk/kkj.k] Hkkx&III] [kaM 4 esa izdkf’kr gqvkA fVIIk.kh 8 % ewy fofu;eksa dks vf/klwpuk la[;k 308&03@2012&D;wvks,l ds rgr iqu% la’kksf/kr fd;k x;k rFkk fnukad 03 fnlacj] 2013 dks Hkkjr ds jkti=] vlk/kkj.k] Hkkx&III ] [kaM 4 esa izdkf’kr gqvkA fVIIk.kh 9 % ewy fofu;eksa dks vf/klwpuk la[;k 308&1@2015&D;wvks,l ds rgr iqu% la’kksf/kr fd;k x;k rFkk fnukad 07 vxLr] 2015 dks Hkkjr ds jkti=] vlk/kkj.k] Hkkx&III ] [kaM 4 esa izdkf’kr gqvkA fVIIk.kh 10 % ewy fofu;eksa dks vf/klwpuk la[;k 301&23@2015&,Q,,.MbZ, ds rgr iqu% la’kksf/kr fd;k x;k rFkk fnukad 16 vDrwcj] 2015 dks Hkkjr ds jkti=] vlk/kkj.k] Hkkx&III ] [kaM 4 esa izdkf’kr gqvkA fVIIk.kh 11 % O;k[;kRed Kkiu] nwjlapkj miHkksDrk laj{k.k ¼nloka la’kks/ku½ fofu;e] 2016 ¼2016 dk 6½ ds mn~ns’;kas ,oa dkj.kkas dks Li"V djrk gSA O;k[;kRed Kkiu 1.(cid:32) nwjlapkj {ks= esa izfrLi/kkZ] futh Hkkxhnkjh rFkk vYi fofu;eu ij ladsafnzr uhfr o fofu;ked lja puk us ns’k esa eksckby lsok dh yxHkx lkoZHkkSfed igqap ,oa ¼lLrh njksa ij½ lqyHkrk dks laHko cuk;k gSA ;n~;fi] vHkh rd ;g ns’k esa baVjusV lsok dks lqyHk cukus esa mruh lQy ugha gqbZ gSA baVjusV ds iz;ksx esa o`fn~/k nj esa Hkkjr ls vkxs py jgs ns’kksa esa baVjusV dh miyC/krk esa c<ksrjh ds QyLo:i vkfFkZd fodkl] lsokvksa dh fMyhojh ds voljkas rFkk xq.koRrk esa mYys[kuh; lq/kkj ns[kk x;k gSA1 vra jkZ"Vªh; vuqHko ls ;g ladsr feyrk gS fd baVjusV dkS’ky rFkk uo fopkjksa dks c<kck nsdj fodkl dks rhoz djus esa ,d l’kDr ek/;e ds :i esa dke djrk gSA lkFk gh ;g lHkh dks eq[;/kkjk esa ‘kkfey djus eas Hkh enn djrk gSA 1 fo'o cSad dh fjiksVZ ds vuqlkj] czkWMcSaM iSaB esa 10 izfr'kr dh o`f) gksus ls fodkl'khy ns'kkas eas izfr O;fDr ldy ?kjsyw mRikn ¼thMhih½ esa 1-38 izfr'kr dh o`f) gksrh gSA¹Hkkx IIIµ[k.M 4º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 3 2.(cid:32) ns'k esa vf/kdka'k baVjusV iz;ksDrk MsVk ¼baVjusV½ lsokvksa dk bLrseky vius eksckby gaSMlsV2 ij djrs gaS] D;ksafd Hkkjr esa ok;jykbu njw lapkj los kvkas ds cktkj dk dkQh de fodkl gqvk gSA ;gka rd fd ok;jylS lsxesaV esa Hkh baVjusV lClfØI'ku dh fLFkfr T;knk vkd”kZd ughaa jgh gSA ekpZ] 2016 ds var rd dqy 103-37 djksM+ okj;ySl miHkksDrkvksa esa dsoy 31-35 djksM+ ok;jysl miHkksDrkvksa us gh baVjusV dk bLrseky fd;kA bl izdkj] ekpZ] 2016 ds var rd ns'k esa ok;jysl baVjusV dh iSB dsoy 30 izfr'kr FkhA tcfd ok;jysl MsVk mi;ksx3 esa ,d o"kZ ¼ekpZ] 2015 esa lekIr frekgh ls ekpZ] 2016 esa lekIr frekgh rd½ esa 58 izfr'kr dh o`f) gqbZ] ok;jysl miHkksDrkvksa] ftUgksaus baVjusV4 dk bLrseky fd;k] dh la[;k eas ,d o"kZ ¼31-03-2015 ls 31-03-2016½ esa 16 izfr'kr dh ekewyh o`f) gqbZA ,slk izrhr gksrk gS fd orZeku miHkksDrkvksa] ftUgsa baVjusV dk bLrseky djus ds Qk;nksa ds ckjs esa irk yx pqdk gS] us vius MsVk ¼baVjusV½ ds mi;ksx dks c<k+ fn;k gS exj] tks bl lsok ls tqM+s gq, ugha gSa] os baVjusV ls tqM+us ds fy, izsfjr ugha gks jgs gSaA blls irk pyrk gS fd ok;jysl baVjusV dh iSB esa lq/kkj ykus dh pqukSfr;ka ekax i{k ds lkFk&lkFk vkiwfrZ i{k dh vkjs ls Hkh is'k vk jgh gSaA fuEufyf[kr dkj.k ns'k esa ok;jysl baVjusV dks viukus ds ekxZ esa vojks/k mRiUu dj jgs gaS %& (i)(cid:32) de lk{kjrk vkSj mlls Hkh de fMftVy lk{kjrk (ii)(cid:32) baVjusV dh mi;ksfxrk dk ¼tu lkekU; dh n`f”V esa½ de gksuk (iii)(cid:32) Ik;kZIr baVjusV dojst dh deh (iv)(cid:32) lhekar miHkksDrkvksa esa MsVk dh xSj&oguh;rk 3.(cid:32) fufoZokn :Ik ls dg ldrs gSa fd yksxksa fo'ks"kdj lhekra miHkksDrkvksa esa MsVk izLrkoksa dh xjS &oguh;rk baVjusV ds de bLrseky ds izeq[k dkj.kkas eas ls ,d gSA gky gh esa] izkf/kdj.k dks miHkksDrkvksa ls dbZ f'kdk;rsa izkIr gqbZ gaS] ftuesa dgk x;k gS fd cktkj esa miyC/k ^flQZ MsVk ykHk okys fo'ks"k VSfjQ okmpj^ ¼;s MkVk&iSd ds uke ls vf/kd tkus tkrs gaS½ muds fy, ogu djus ;ksX; ugha gaS D;ksafd buesa ls T;knkrj okmpjksa dh oS/krk vof/k cgqr gh de gSA Hkkjrh; nwjlapkj fofu;ked izkf/kdj.k ¼ftls blesa vkxs izkf/kdj.k dgk x;k gS½ us nwjlapkj miHkksDrk laj{k.k vf/kfu;e] 2012 ¼ftls belsa vkxs Vhlhihvkj] 2012 dgk x;k gS½ ds ek/;e ls LFkkfir VSfjQ okmpj gsrq ÝseodZ ds vuqlkj] lsok iznkrk oS/krk vof/k] tks 90 fnu ls vf/kd ugha gksxh] okys fo'ks"k VSfjQ okmpj dh is'kd'k dj ldrk gSA 4.(cid:32) ;g le>k x;k gS fd dbZ miHkksDrk] ftUgksaus gky gh esa ok;jysl baVjusV ¼vius eksckby gaSMlsV ij½ dk bLrseky djuk 'kq: fd;k gS] cgqr de MsVk ¼baVjusV½ lsokvksa dk bLrseky dj jgs gSa( blfy, MsVk&iSd lekIr gksus dh rkjh[k vkus rd] muds }kjk [kjhns x, MsVk&iSd dk MsVk okWY;we dk ,d cM+k fgLlk fcuk mi;ksx ds cpk jg tkrk gSA MsVk&iSd dk bLrseky ugha fd;k x;k MsVk] oS/krk vof/k lekIr gksus ij tCr dj fy;k tkrk gSA ifj.kkeLo:i] ,sls miHkksDrkvksa ds fy, izfr esxkckbV MsVk dk ykxw ewY; cgqr vf/kd gks tkrk gSA vr% fiNys dqN le; ls miHkksDrkvkas dh f'kdk;ras MsVk&iSd dh xSj&oguh;rk ls lacaf/kr gSaA 5.(cid:32) Hkkjrh; nwjlapkj fofu;ked izkf/kdj.k dks MsVk&iSd ¼flQZ MsVk ykHk okys fo'ks"k VSfjQ okmpj½ ds fy, yach oS/krk vof/k ds laca/k esa vuqjks/k izkIr gq, gSa tks Li"V :Ik ls ok;jySl baVjusV ds lhekar miHkksDrkvksa dh fpra kvksa dk fujkdj.k djus ds fy, Hkh gaSA 6.(cid:32) izkf/kdj.k us flQZ MsVk miyC/k djkus okys fo'ks"k VSfjQ okmpjksa ds laca/k esa vf/kd yach oS/krk vof/k okys lq>koksa ds fofHkUu igyqvksa ij xkjS fd;k gSA iz'u mBk Fkk fd oks vf/kdre oS/krk vof/k D;k gksa] tks ,lVhoh ds fy, nh tk, tks fd flQZ MsVk miyC/k djkrk gSA fdlh Hkh lsok iznkrk ds usVodZ ij u, izhisM miHkksDrkvksa ds lewg esa fuEufyf[kr Jsf.k;ka 'kkfey gaS %& (i)(cid:32) igyh ckj ¼QLVZ Vkbe½ eksckby miHkksDrk( vkSj (ii)(cid:32) ,sls miHkksDrk tks fdlh nwljs lsok iznkrk ds usVodZ dks NksM+dj vk, gSaA 7.(cid:32) miHkksDrkvksa dh mijksDr nksuksa Jsf.k;ksa dk ,d cMk+ Hkkx vklS r izhisM miHkksDrk dh rqyuk esa ewY; ds izfr lgt :i ls vf/kd lrdZ gkrs k gSA los k iznkrk yach vof/k rd oQknkjh ¼ykW;YVh½ lqfuf'pr djus ds fy, de VSfjQ ds ek/;e ls ,sls miHkksDrkvksa dks viuh lsok,a nsus ds fy, ;kstuk,a 2 baVjusV dk bLrseky djus okys yxHkx 94 izfr'kr miHkksDrk bldk bLrseky vius eksckby gSaMlsV~l ¼vFkkZr~ ok;jySl :Ik esa½ ij djrs gaSA 3 ok;jySl MsVk mi;ksx ekpZ] 2015 dks lekIr frekgh ds 285431 VsjkckbV~l ¼Vhch½ ls c<+dj ekpZ] 2016 esa lekIr frekgh esa 451185 Vhch gks x;k gSA 4 baVjusV dk bLrseky djus okys miHkksDrkvksa dh la[;k 31-03-2015 ds 27-04 djksM+ ls c<+dj 31-03-2016 dks 31-35 djksM+ gks xbZ gSA4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC. 4] cukrs gSaA fQj Hkh] bl rjg ds miHkksDrk cktkj esa vf/kd vkd"kZd vkWQj dh ryk'k esa jgrs gSaA ifj.kkeLo:i] ,sls miHkksDrkvksa ds fy, puZ&jsV] vkSlr miHkksDrkvksa ds puZ&jsV dh rqyuk esa dkQh vf/kd gksrk gS vkjS tkfgj rkjS ij u, izhisM eksckby dusD'ku dk vklS r thoudky Ng ekg ls ysdj ,d o"kZ ds chp gksrk gSA 8.(cid:32) mijksDr ds ifjizs{; esa] ^^flQZ MsVk^^ ,lVhoh ds fy, ,d o"kZ ¼365 fnu½ dh vf/kdre oS/krk vof/k j[kuk mfpr izrhr gksrk gS] ftudh is'kd'k lhekra miHkksDrkvksa] QLVZ Vkbe MsVk ;wtj vkSj ewY; ds izfr lrdZ miHkksDrkvksa dks vkdf"kZr djus ds fy, dh tkuh pkfg,A 9.(cid:32) mEehn gS fd 365 fnuksa rd dh oS/krk okys ^^flQZ MsVk^^ ,lVhoh dks vuqefr nsus ls lsok iznkrkvksa dks buksosfVo MsVk mRiknksa dh is'kd'k djus ds fy, vf/kd fodYi miyC/k gksaxsA vkSlr dh rqyuk esa de MsVk lsokvksa dk bLrseky djus okys miHkksDrkvksa] vkjS os miHkksDrk] tks orZeku eas fdlh MsVk lsok dk mi;ksx ugha dj jgs gSa] os bl vf/kd yach oS/krk vof/k ds ,lVhoh ds izkjafHkd yf{kr miHkksDrk gks ldrs gaSA vxj lsok iznkrk bl rjg ds vkd"kZd mRikn miyC/k djkrs gSa rks igyh ckj MsVk dk mi;ksx djus okys dbZ miHkksDrk] MsVk lsokvksa dk mi;ksx djus ds fy, izsfjr gkasxs D;kasfd mUgsa yach oS/krk vof/k ds pyrs ckj&ckj okmpj dks ,DVhosV djkus dh t:jr ugha iMs+xhA blls ns'k esa baVjusV dh iSB c<+uss dh laHkkouk gS vkjS ifj.kkeLo:Ik ns'k dks lkekftd&vkfFkZd ykHk izkIr gksaxsA 10.(cid:32) izkf/kdj.k ,Dlsl lsok iznkrkvksa dks Vhlhihvkj] 2012 ds tfj;s vuqer ekStwnk fo'ks"k VSfjQ okmpj dh Js.kh ds vanj flQZ MsVk grs q okmpj dh is'kd'k djus fy, oS/krk vof/k dks 365 fnu ¼orZeku esa 90 fnu½ rd c<k+us dh vuqefr nsus dk izLrko djrk gSA vr% ^^flQZ MsVk^^ ykHk okyk ,lVhoh dh oS/krk vof/k ekStwnk 90 fnuksa ds LFkku ij vf/kdre ,d o"kZ gksxhA ;g nksgjk;k tkrk gS fd ^flQZ MsVk^^ ykHk iznku djus okys ,ls s ,lVhoh dks ;g 'krZ fd ;s 10 #i;s ;k rRlaca/kh xq.kd ds ewY;oxZ esa vkWQj ugh fd, tk,axs] lfgr Vhlhihvkj] 2012 esa ;Fkk fufnZ"V ,lVhoh dh lHkh 'krksZa dks iwjk djuk pkfg,A 11.(cid:32) fgr/kkjdksa ls fVIif.k;ksa vkeaf=r djus ds fy, O;k[;kRed Kkiu ds lkFk MªkW¶V fofu;e Hkkjrh; nwjlapkj fofu;ked izkf/kdj.k dh osclkbV ij viyksM fd, x, FksA fgr/kkjdksa us ^flQZ MsVk^ ,lVhoh gsrq vf/kd yach oS/krk ds izLrko dk ijw s mRlkg ds lkFk Lokxr fd;k gSA ,d njw lapkj los k iznkrk us lq>ko fn;k fd vkWijsVjksa dks mi;ksxdrkZvksa dks dqN ,fIysds’ku@osclkbV ds fu%’kqYd mi;ksx djus dh is’kd’k djus dh vuqefr nh tkuh pkfg, rkfd bl izdkj ds mi;ksxdrkZ] baVjusV mi;ksxdrkZvksa esa ‘kkfey gks ldsa] tks fd Hkkjrh; nwjlapkj fofu;ked izkf/kdj.k ds MsVk los kvkas ds fy, foHksndkjh ewY; fu/kkZj.k fofu;e ds vuq:Ik ugha ik;k x;kA ^flQZ MsVk^ ,lVhoh dh oS/krk vof/k dks 365 fnu rd c<k+us dh vuqefr ijke'kZ izfØ;k ds nkSjku fgr/kkjdksa ls izkIr lq>koksa lfgr lHkh lacaf/kr eqn~nksa ij fof/kor lksp&fopkj djus ds ckn nh xbZ gSA TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 19th August, 2016 TELECOM CONSUMERS PROTECTION (TENTH AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 2016 (6 OF 2016) No. 301-7(2)/2015-F&EA.—In exercise of the powers conferred by section 36, read with sub-clauses (i) and (v) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 11, of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 (24 of 1997), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India hereby makes the following regulations further to amend the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations, 2012 (2 of 2012), namely:- 1.(cid:32) (1) These regulations may be called the Telecom Consumers Protection (Tenth Amendment) Regulations, 2016; (2) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2.(cid:32) In regulation 2 of the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations, 2012 (hereinafter referred to as the principal regulations), in clause (o), the words “for a period not exceeding ninety days” and provisos thereunder shall be omitted;¹Hkkx IIIµ[k.M 4º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 5 3.(cid:32) In regulation 4 of the principal regulations,— (a) in sub-regulation (2), in clause (c), for sub-clause (iii), the following sub-clause shall be substituted, namely- “(iii) clearly indicates the validity period of the voucher which shall not exceed ninety days: Provided that the service provider may offer a voucher exclusively for data with validity period not exceeding three hundred sixty five days: Provided further that the Special Tariff Voucher for SMS or data, having validity of more than seven days, may be renewed after obtaining the explicit consent of the consumer in accordance with the procedure specified in Schedule I and shall be deactivated, at any time, on the request of the consumer, in accordance with the procedure specfied in Schedule II: Provided also that no Special Tariff Voucher shall be renewed after its tariff has been revised. SUDHIR GUPTA, Secy. [ADVT.-III/4/Exty./215(142)] Note. 1. - The principal regulations were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 6th January, 2012 vide notification No. 308-5/2011- QOS dated the 6th January, 2012. Note. 2. – The principal regulations were amended vide Notification No.308-5/2011-QOS and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 11th January, 2012. Note. 3. – The principal regulations were further amended vide Notification No.308-5/2011-QOS and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 21st February, 2012. Note. 4. - The principal regulations were further amended vide Notification No.308-5/2011-QOS and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 7th March, 2012. Note. 5. - The principal regulations were further amended vide Notification No.308-5/2011-QOS and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 22nd October, 2012. Note. 6. – The principal regulations were further amended vide Notification No.308-5/2011-QOS and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 27nd November, 2012. Note. 7. – The principal regulations were further amended vide Notification No.308-5/2011-QOS and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 21st February, 2013. Note. 8. – The principal regulations were further amended vide Notification No.308-3/2012-QOS and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 3rd December, 2013. Note. 9. – The principal regulations were further amended vide Notification No.308-1/2015-QOS and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 7th August, 2015. Note. 10. – The principal regulations were further amended vide Notification No. 301-23/2015-F&EA and published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 dated the 16th October, 2015. Note. 11. - The Explanatory Memorandum explains the objects and reasons of the Telecom Consumers Protection (Tenth Amendment) Regulations, 2016 (6 of 2016) Explanatory Memorandum 1.(cid:32) The policy and regulatory framework in the telecom sector focusing on competition, private participation and light-touch regulations has lead to a near-universal access and affordability of mobile telephony in the country. However, it has, so far, not been as successful in spreading Internet access services in the country. The countries6 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC. 4] which are ahead of India in the growth curve on use of Internet have witnessed a remarkable boost in economic growth, expansion in opportunities and improvement in service delivery on account of increase in Internet access1. International experience indicates that use of Internet serves as an enabler to accelerate growth by way of fueling efficiency and innovation. At the same time, it helps in achieving inclusiveness. The potential socio- economic benefits accruing out of the use of Internet seem to suggest that India can immensely benefit if the government and businesses make concerted efforts to ensure that Internet access services reach to one and all. 2.(cid:32) Most of the Internet users in the country consume data (Internet) services on their mobile handsets2, as the market for wire line telecommunication services in India is much less developed. Even in the wireless segment, the situation of Internet subscription has not been very impressive. Only 31.35 crore wireless subscribers used Internet out of a total wireless subscriber base of 103.37 crore at the end of March, 2016. Thus the penetration of wireless Internet in the country was only 30% at the end of March, 2016. While the wireless data usage3 grew by about 58% in one year (from the Quarter ending March, 2015 to the quarter-ending March 2016), the wireless subscriber base, which used Internet4, grew by mere 16% in a year (from 31.03.2015 to 31.03.2016. It seems that the existing subscribers, having discovered the benefits of Internet usage, have increased their consumption of data (Internet), but the non-connected are not getting induced to access internet. Apparently, the challenges in improving wireless Internet penetration have been from both, the demand side as well as the supply side. The following reasons seem to be plaguing the adoption of wireless Internet in the country: (i)(cid:32) Low level of literacy and even lower digital literacy (ii)(cid:32) Low perceived utility of Internet (iii)(cid:32) Lack of adequate Internet coverage (iv)(cid:32) Non-affordability of data amongst marginal consumers 3.(cid:32) Undisputedly, non-affordability of data offerings is one of the major factors of poor uptake of Internet, particularly amongst the marginal consumers. In the recent past, the Authority, has received many complaints from the consumers stating that the ‘special tariff voucher with only data benefits’ (popularly known as data- packs) available in the market are unaffordable to them because most of such vouchers have a very short period of validity. As per the framework for tariff vouchers established by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (hereinafter, referred to as, the Authority) through the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations, 2012 (hereinafter, referred to as TCPR, 2012), the service providers can offer special tariff vouchers with a period of validity not exceeding 90 days. 4.(cid:32) It is understood that many consumers, who have recently begun using wireless Internet (on their mobile handsets), consume much less data (Internet) services; therefore, a significant portion of the volume of data offered in the data-packs subscribed by them remains unutilized by the time expiry date of data-pack arrives. The unutilized data in the data-pack is forfeited upon expiry of the period of validity. As a result, the effective price per Megabyte of data to such consumers turns out to be much higher. Hence the recent consumer complaints regarding non-affordability of data-packs. 1 As per a World Bank report, a 10% increase in broadband Internet penetration increases the per capita Gross Dommestic Product (GDP) by 1.38% in the developing countries. 2 About 94% subscribers who use Internet consume it on their mobile handsets (i.e. wirelessly). 3 The wireless data usage grew from 285431 Terabytes (TB) in Quarter ending March, 2015 to 451185 TB in quarter-ending March, 2016. 4 The subscriber base which used wireless Internet, has grown from 27.04 crore as on 31.03.2015 to 31.35 crore as on 31.03.2016.¹Hkkx IIIµ[k.M 4º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 7 5.(cid:32) Requests have been received in TRAI seeking longer validity for data-packs (i.e. Special Tariff Vouchers with only data benefits) apparently to address the concern of marginal consumers of wireless Internet. 6.(cid:32) The Authority has examined the various aspects of the suggestion to have longer validity in respect of Special Tariff Vouchers providing only data. The question arises as to the maximum validity period that could be allowed for STVs that provide exclusive data. The set of new prepaid consumers on any service provider’s network comprises of the following categories: (i)(cid:32) First-time mobile consumers; and (ii)(cid:32) Consumers who have migrated from some other service provider’s network. 7.(cid:32) Intuitively, a significant portion of both of the afore-mentioned categories of consumers are relatively more price sensitive than an average pre-paid consumer. The service providers devise strategies to serve such consumers through cheaper tariffs to ensure long-term loyalty. Nevertheless, such consumers keep looking for more attractive offers in the market. As a result, the churn-rate for such consumers is much higher than the churn-rate of average prepaid consumers and apparently the average lifetime of a new prepaid mobile connection is in the range of six months to a year. 8.(cid:32) Keeping in view the above, it appears reasonable to keep the maximum period of validity for the “data only” STVs, which are intended to be offered to attract marginal consumers, first-time data users and price-sensitive consumers, as one year (365 days). 9.(cid:32) It is expected that allowing “data only” STVs to have validity up to 365 days, exclusively targeted to data usage, would provide more flexibility to the service providers to offer innovative data products. The consumers, who use less of data services than average and those, who are presently not using any data services are likely to be the primary target consumers of such longer validity STVs. If the service providers make available attractive products of this kind, many first-time data users would be induced to try consumption of data services as they may not be required to activate voucher frequently because of longer validity. This is likely to boost Internet penetration in the country and, in turn, would reap socio-economic benefits to the country. 10.(cid:32) The Authority proposes to allow Access Service Providers to allow an increase in validity up to 365 days (presently 90 days) for offering a voucher exclusively for data within the category of existing Special Tariff Voucher allowed through the TCPR, 2012. Thus an STV with “data only” benefits would be allowed to be offered with maximum one year validity instead of maximum 90 days presently. It is reiterated that such STVs providing “data only” benefits must satisfy all conditions of a STV as specified in TCPR, 2012 including that these shall not be offered in denominations of Rupees 10 or multiples thereof. 11.(cid:32) The draft regulation alongwith the Explanatory Memorandum was placed on TRAI website inviting comments of stakeholders. The stakeholders have overwhelmingly welcomed the proposal to allow longer validity for ‘data only’ STVs. The suggestions of one Telecom Service Provider that the operators should be allowed to offer the usage of certain apps/websites free to the users, so that such users can be on boarded as internet users was not found consistent with the TRAI regulations on differential pricing of data services. The enhancement in validity of ‘data only’ STVs up to 365 days has been allowed after due consideration of all related issues including the suggestions received from the stakeholders during the consultation process. 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