**Executive Summary**
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) notified policies and regulatory framework, resulting in some of the lowest mobile service costs in India. This was stated by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 18th DEC 2025. A comparison of mobile service pricing, as published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2024, is provided in Annexure "A".
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Regulatory Authority:**
* The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regulates the rates of telecommunication services in India under the TRAI Act 1997.
* **Tariff Framework:**
* Tariff for telecommunication service is under forbearance, except for services such as National Roaming, Rural Fixed Line Services, mobile number portability charges, leased circuits, and USSD.
* Service providers can design and offer tariffs based on their understanding of the market and their best commercial interest, subject to compliance with regulatory provisions.
* Service providers have the flexibility to decide various tariff components like the rates for different types of calls, SMS, data offers etc. with multiple combinations including recharge value and validity for different service areas of their operation.
* Tariffs are offered by service providers taking into account several factors including input costs, level of competition and other commercial considerations.
* **Comparative Mobile Service Pricing (2024 ITU Data):**
* Basket of mobile, voice, SMS and data basket in some of the neighboring countries and other countries is given in Annexure- "А".
* India: USD 1.86
* China: USD 8.56
* Afghanistan: USD 6.01
* Pakistan: USD 1.43
* USA: USD 48.95
**Impact Analysis**
**Mobile Service Subscribers:**
* **Impact:** Benefit from some of the lowest mobile service costs globally.
* **Action Required:** None specified in the document.
**Telecom Service Providers:**
* **Impact:** Required to design tariffs based on market understanding and commercial interests, while complying with TRAI regulations. Have flexibility in determining tariff components.
* **Action Required:** Comply with TRAI regulations, consider market conditions and commercial factors when designing tariff plans.
**Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI):**
* **Impact:** Responsible for regulating the rates of telecommunication services in India.
* **Action Required:** Continue to regulate the rates of telecommunication services in India under the TRAI Act 1997.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The independent regulator for telecommunication services in India, responsible for regulating rates and tariffs.
TRAI Act 1997: The act that established the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and its powers.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU): International organization that published the comparison of mobile service pricing.
India: The country where the policies have resulted in one of the lowest costs for mobile services.
Ministry of Communications
India as Global Data Hub
Policies of the Government and regulatory framework notified
by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) have resulted
in one of the lowest costs for subscribers of mobile services
in India
प्रव तथ: 18 DEC 2025 5:12PM by PIB Delhi
Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, in a
written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, said that the communication cost in India is one of
the lowest in world. The policies of the Government and regulatory framework notified by Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has resulted into one of the lowest costs for subscribers of mobile
services in India. The comparison of mobile services pricing, as published by International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2024 consisting of (140 min + 70 SMS + 2GB) for basket of mobile,
voice, SMS and data basket in some of the neighboring countries and other countries is given in
Annexure- “A”.
As per the Provisions of TRAI Act 1997, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), an
independent regulator for telecommunication services, regulates the rates of telecommunication services
in the country. As per the existing regulatory tariff framework, tariff for telecommunication service is
under forbearance except for services such as National Roaming, Rural Fixed Line Services, mobile
number portability charges, leased circuits and USSD. Subject to compliance with extant regulatory
provisions, service providers are free to design and offer tariffs based on their understanding of the market
situation and in their best commercial interest. Service providers have the flexibility to decide various
tariff components like the rates for different types of calls, SMS, data offers etc. with multiple
combinations including recharge value and validity for different service areas of their operation. Tariffs
are offered by service providers taking into account several factors including input costs, level of
competition and other commercial considerations.
Annexure –“A”
India and neighbouring countries
Economy Measure Names Measure Value
China USD 8.56
Afganistan USD 6.01Bhutan USD 4.56
Bangladesh USD 2.40
Nepal(Republic of ) USD 2.72
India USD 1.86
Pakistan USD 1.43
Other Countries
USA USD 48.95
Australia USD 23.07
South Africa USD 9.37
UK USD 12.62
Russian Federation USD 5.58
Brazil USD 5.75
Indonesia USD 3.13
Ezypt USD 1.65
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MI/ARJ
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