ToI: Telecom operators shun comment on TRAI tariff. I missed this point in the TRAI recommendation: WLL operators are now free to determine their own tariffs, and are not linked to fixed-line rates anymore. Bing! Looks like Reliance’s 20p/minute (or 5p per 15s pulse) plan will be making a comeback after all.

The linked article makes amusing reading incidentally: According to the basic telecom industry, TRAI had ushered in a Calling Party Pays (CPP) regime through the back door and thus lost out in the battle as they would now be paying to cellular operators on equal basis. So CPP is now a bad thing?

Cellular operators cried foul over TRAI giving free hand to WLL operators to determine their tariffs. And why shouldn’t they?

They also decried TRAI announcing free incoming calls on cell phones without levying any additional fixed charges. If this quote is accurate, I’d be surprised — cellcos have been asking for this for some time now, it’s unthinkable that they won’t pass on the benefit to their subscribers.

Overall, the TRAI seems to have redeemed itself this time — the proposal seems to be quite fair to all parties (curmudgeons protesting the local-call-tariff hike notwithstanding).