Govt to take considerate view of per-sec billing model: Pilot

The government will take a considerate view of the telecom regulator Trai's proposal to bill customers based on per second usage instead of the prevailing pulse system, Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot today said.

Talking on the sidelines of an event, Pilot said "we will take a considerate view on that" when asked about the per-second billing model — where customers are charged for the actual usage instead of the prevalent practice of billing them for a minute even if they use less than that.

"It's up to Trai to take a call on how we proceed. Broadly speaking, we are of the opinion that India is such a large market that there is sufficient competition and we must do everything to ensure that the customer gets the best possible service at the best possible price."

Talking during an event in Geneva this week, Trai Chairman J S Sarma said "We may ask all the operators to consider per-second pulse as a mandatory tariff option along with their other tariff plans."

Sarma further said Trai may soon come out with a consultation paper on the subject and invite suggestions on the new model.

Though some of the operators are voluntarily offering per second billing option, the move to propel telecom operators towards a tariff system that charges consumers per second of usage is likely to hit the revenues of the telcos.