TRAI has shared possible plans for all telecom service providers to offer a pay-per second tariff plan, in addition to the pay-per minute tariff plans available. Mr J.S. Sarma, Chairman TRAI Chairman, said: “We may ask all the operators to consider per-second pulse as a mandatory tariff option along with their other tariff plans”, speaking in Geneva on the sidelines of the International Telecommunication Union conference.
TRAI may also soon release a consultation paper, which would invite suggestions about the per-second tariff plan being made mandatory.
The concept of pay-per-second was introduced by Tata DoComo, which broke away from the industry standard of pay-per minute charging. It has also benefited from this, by becoming the top operator in the number of subscribers added during August 2009.
Several other operators have also launched the pay-per second plan, among them being Systema Shyam (MTS) and Aircel. Last week, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) introduced one paise per second pulse (for local calls) and two paise per second pulse (for STD) in the southern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. Aircel, too, extended its pay-per second plan from Kolkata and Orissa to Uttar Pradesh last week.
With prepaid customers comprising 95 per cent of the Indian telecom market, a price war is inevitable.
