Telecom Lead India: TRAI has issued a direction to Indian telecom
service providers on preventing misleading tariff advertisements. The direction
is aimed at improving transparency in telecom tariff offers for facilitating the telecom
subscribers to select the tariff plans that best meet their needs.
The telecom regulator had extensive consultations with the
stakeholders including holding Open House Discussions at various places across
the country.
TRAI said a tariff advertisement is considered to be
misleading, which in any way, is likely to induce the consumer to subscribe to
a tariff plan, which he would not have subscribed; contains an untrue
statement; omits a material fact having bearing on the subscriber’s decision;
and fails to disclose attached limitations and restrictions.
Through this direction, the telecom access service providers
have been directed that advertisements published by them – are transparent and
non-misleading and unambiguous; disclose all material information in unambiguous
manner; contain the website address and customer care number of the telecom
access service provider; and the advertisements issued in
vernacular languages contain all the mandatory disclosures
in the same vernacular language.
Further, the service providers have been mandated to
maintain an advertisement register which must include a specimen of every
tariff related advertisements, and carry out internal audit to ensure that they
are complying with all aspects of this Direction and to report compliance to
the Authority on half yearly basis.
TRAI said the Authority or any agency authorized by it may
inspect and audit the register and the specimen copy of the advertisement(s)
maintained by the access service provider under this direction.
This direction shall apply to all tariff advertisements,
issued through any medium including printed media, pamphlets, radio,
television, internet, e-mails and any other audio-visual electronic media.
This direction shall come into force with immediate effect
and all tariff advertisements inconsistent with the provisions of this direction
shall be withdrawn within thirty days of the issue of this direction.
