TRAI Enforces Stricter Telecom Quality Norms with Higher Penalties

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has confirmed that it will not reconsider the new service quality norms. These rules mandate telecom operators to compensate users for service outages exceeding 24 hours and increase penalties for not meeting quality benchmarks. The new regulations aim to enhance service quality.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Wednesday confirmed that there will be no reconsideration of the recently introduced service quality norms. These regulations require telecom operators to compensate users in cases of service outages and impose higher penalties for failing to meet set benchmarks.

TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti emphasized that the norms were instituted after thorough consultation and consideration. Speaking at the India SatCom 2024 event organized by the Broadband India Forum (BIF), Lahoti stated, ''We have done very long thinking on this process… keeping in view the quality of service that the customer should be getting, and that service provider should provide.''

Under the new regulations, telecom operators must compensate subscribers if service is disrupted for more than 24 hours at the district level. Additionally, the penal amount for failing to meet quality benchmarks has been increased to Rs 1 lakh per violation, with a graded penalty system for different scales of rule breaches. These new norms supersede previous regulations covering basic and mobile services as well as broadband.

(With inputs from agencies.)