TDSAT seeks clarifications on Jio's free offers

Telecom tribunal TDSAT on Monday asked TRAI to clarify whether newcomer Reliance Jio had informed the regulator as well subscribers about its two free offers –Welcome Offer and Happy New Offer –being "distinct" from one another.

The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has given TRAI time till February 15 to submit clarification on various issues including "whether the service provider had informed TRAI that the offer B (Happy New Year offer) is distinct from offer A (Welcome Offer)...and filed with TRAI as per provisions".

TDSAT also asked the telecom regulator to provide clarification on whether the provision of the two offers as well as their implementation were in accordance with Telecom Tariff Order and Telecom Consumers Protection Regulation. TRAI has also been been asked to clarify whether

Reliance Jio informed its subscribers that the two offers were different and whether they took the "subscriber's consent".

Other issues include whether or not the offer constitutes a tariff plan, a special tariff voucher or something else. TDSAT has fixed February 20 as the next hearing date. Last week, Trai gave a clean chit to Reliance Jio's free calling and data plan on the ground that the scheme is not a violation of the regulatory guidelines on promotional offers.