Trai removes clause requiring 50 paise charge on SMS beyond 100 per day

Regulator Trai on Wednesday removed a specific provision that required telecom operators to charge at least 50 paise per SMS for text messages exceeding 100 on a single connection per day, taking into account the interest of "genuine non-commercial bulk users".

This means operators will have a free hand in fixing charges for such bulk SMSes by non-commercial users, and Trai's practice of forbearance will extend to such messages too, an official explained.

The amendment, removing a specific provision in the telecom tariff order, came after an elaborate consultation process, that saw the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) organising its first-ever