Consumers, not revenue, should be priority, Trai tells Telecom Commission

Counters Telecom Commission's argument that reduced tariffs are lowering government revenue

The Telecom Commission's arguments that reduced tariffs and promotional offers are lowering government revenue and hitting financials of the sector are "inconsistent" with public policy objectives, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has said.

In response to the Commission's letter of last month, the Trai is also learnt to have stated that consumer interest is "critical" to good regulation and cannot be substituted by revenue maximisation.

It is a well-known fact that lower tariffs help increase penetration of telecom services in rural and remote areas, the Trai has said in its letter to the Commission.

Affordable services and consumer