Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) announced its recommendations on issuing printed copy of the bills to the landline subscribers and mobile post-paid subscribers free of cost.
The latest recommendations indicate that telecom operators will continue to print copy of the bills. Operators can send e-bills if the subscribers decide to opt for. Mobile operators cannot make e-bills as a default option.
India has 1182 million mobile phone – pre-paid and post-paid customers and 21.79 million land phone customers in 2018. Nearly 5 percent of 1182 million mobile phone customers on post-paid platforms. This means, the total number of post-paid customers is around 60 million. 90 percent of 60 million customers have already opted for e-bills.
TRAI said telecoms to send printed copy of the bills to the landline subscribers and mobile post-paid subscribers free of cost, as a default option and an option to the subscriber to switch over to e-bill if he gives an explicit consent.
Telecom service providers pleaded for changing the default option to e-bills citing reasons such as environmental concerns and cost of printing.
TRAI said it would be feasible for the e-literate subscribers to make a choice for e-bill. In fact a large number of subscribers of different segments who could not be persuaded to the e-bill mode, would be those who have no internet access or are incapable to make an informed and effective choice.
