Cellular operators can introduce free incoming call scheme: HC

BANGALORE: The high court (HC) has clarified that any cellular operator in Delhi wanting to introduce free incoming call scheme for its mobile phone subscribers, is free to do so.

A division bench of chief justice S. N. Variava and S. K. Mahajan also clarified that the order issued on Tuesday striking down calling- party-pays (CPP) system in its existing form would not come in the way. "If an individual operator wants to introduce the scheme on its own, he is free to do so,'' the bench told Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) counsel Manjul Bajpai.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had proposed a CPP system making incoming calls free for the mobile subscriber, but put the burden of cost on the person calling from a landline phone. The idea was to increase usage of mobile phone services, expand the subscriber base, increase revenues of private operators and finally help them in bringing down operating costs per minute, TRAI's economic advisor Harsh Vardhan submitted during the hearings. Saying no to the proposed CPP regime, the court asked TRAI to come back with re-worked CPP system which would ultimately benefit the consumer. The bench observed TRAI has no power to make regulations that override the terms and conditions mentioned in licenses issued by the government as a licenser.