New Delhi: Bharti Airtel has filed an application in telecom tribunal TDSAT objecting to the alleged delays by Reliance Jio while withdrawing its 3-month complimentary offer as was directed by Trai.
The interim application by Airtel pertains to the Summer Surprise offer of Reliance Jio under which it was giving free data and voice under Rs303 plan.
Airtel has also objected to the continuation of scheme’s benefits for those who had already subscribed to the said offer before it was withdrawn.
When contacted, Bharti Airtel declined to comment.
The matter was heard briefly today in the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). The next hearing will be on 20 April, along with a main petition, in which Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular have challenged a Trai order that allowed free 4G service offers of Reliance Jio beyond the stipulated 90 days.
On 6 April, Trai had asked Reliance Jio to withdraw its contentious 3-month ‘complimentary’ offer of unlimited data usage and free calls on payment of a minimum Rs303, saying it was not in accordance with the regulatory framework.
Trai had said that Reliance Jio will be required to roll back the 3-month complimentary offer in “shortest possible time” but clarified that customers who had already subscribed to the said scheme could avail the benefits till June-end.
Soon after, telecom operator Vodafone approached Trai alleging that Jio was inviting last minute subscriptions to its ‘Summer Surprise’ offer despite the regulator finding it in violation of norms.
Reliance Jio, on 11 April, unveiled a new plan of 1GB 4G data daily for 3 months at Rs309 for its Prime members, but Airtel had dubbed it as being a case of “old wine in a new bottle”.
The same day, Reliance Jio said it has “fully withdrawn” the Summer Surprise offer following the advice of the telecom regulator.
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