An Access Service provider in India offers access services within the Licensed Service Area (LSA) only. Inter-LSA calls have to be routed through a National Long Distance Operator (NLDO). The charges to be paid by an access provider to the NLDO to cover the cost for carrying inter-LSA calls are called carriage charges. TRAI had prescribed the carriage charges through the Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) Regulations of 23rd February, 2006 which stipulated a ceiling of 65 paisa per minute. These charges were reviewed again in 2008/2009 but the same ceiling of 65 paisa per minute was retained.
To review the IUC, the Authority issued a Consultation Paper on 19 November 2014 to seek the views of stakeholders on various component of IUC including domestic carriage charges. Stakeholders were asked to submit written comments by 11 December 2014 and counter-comments by 18 December 2014. On the request of some stakeholders, the dates for submission of comments and counter-comments were extended up-to 22 December 2014 and 29 December 2014 respectively. Written comments were received from two industry associations, 15 TSPs and 47 other stakeholders, including companies, organizations, firms and individuals. Counter-comments were received from six TSPs and one individual. An Open House Discussion was held on 09 Janaury 2015 in Delhi with stakeholders.
On the basis of comments received from stakeholders either in writing or during the Open House Discussion and internal analysis, the Authority has reduced the ceiling of the domestic carriage charge to 35 paisa per minute from the existing 65 paisa per minute through these Regulations which will be effective from 1st March, 2015.
TRAI has already issued regulations prescribing Mobile Termination Charge and Fixed Termination Charge and International Termination Charge on 23rd February, 2015.
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