Tariff needs to be viewed from consumers' perspective: Sarma

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today said the issue of tariff needs to be viewed keeping in mind consumer interest and long-term impact on the industry after Bharti Airtel sought intervention from the regulator on 'predatory pricing' by some players.

"The whole issue of tariff needs to be viewed from various angles. On the one hand, there is a need for the consumer to have affordable rates and on the other the issue of how tariff affects the industry in the long term," Trai Chairman J S Sarma told reporters here.

Both these factors have to be kept in mind when deliberating on the issue of tariff, he added.

"Trai would take all these issues under consideration," he said, adding, "at this stage, there is nothing in the offing...We are examining the matter. As and when we decide to look into it, it will be through a consultative process."

Talking about any delays in the roll-out of mobile number portability, Sarma said, "December 31 has been decided...The deadline has been fixed by the government, the DoT, it's a part of the licence condition so I expect as a regulator that these people will abide by the licence condition but whether the date will be extended or not is not a decision that a regulator takes."