Press Trust of India
New Delhi, Dec 23: Telecom regulator Trai has asked Reliance Communications to keep services of Facebook’s free Internet platform, Free Basics, in abeyance, till the issue on differential pricing is sorted out. According to an official source, Trai has written to RCom to keep the commercial roll out of Free Basics in abeyance. The regulator is believed to have sought the details of terms and conditions of the service from RCom. The source further said RCom had informed the authority on November 23 about the service, which was launched free of cost for its GSM customers.
As the operator had not submitted the terms and conditions of the service, Trai in a letter dated December 1 had asked RCom to hold the commercial launch of the service. Trai had sought the details as the service falls under differential pricing of data by operators. Trai has already come out with a consultation paper on differential pricing and whether it should be allowed or not. The source further said as the issue is currently being debated, it had asked RCom to hold the service and a decision on the matter will be taken after Trai finalises its stand on differential pricing. RCom on November 23 had informed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) about launch of Free Basics. This platform, which is in the form of mobile application, allows access to some websites without consumer paying for internet charges. The regulator on December 1 asked RCom to keep service in abeyance and sought conditions around the Free Basics service.
RCom in a letter on December 7 sought time till December 9 to furnish details and assured to keep Free Basics service on hold till then, the source said. “No reply from RCom was received thereafter. Hence, Trai has again issued a letter today (Wednesday) seeking details of service,” the source said.
