Telecom’s fast-growing mess

How do I ensure that I am on the best payment plan? Who provides a better fixed line to WLL to GSM rate and vice versa than my provider? Is the other plan really better than what I am on? Which payment plan am I currently on? How do I ensure that the billing software of the service provider is modified adequately every time a new plan is announced? Recently, a subscriber of a large operator showed me his bill. Rs 1,288.35 had been rounded off to Rs 1289, instead of being rounded off to the nearest rupee.



Inquiries with the regulator reveal that the watchdog had asked The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) to work on a programme to help consumers. The programme, basically a do-it-yourself exercise, allows the subscriber to fill in the various parameters, and then it tells you whether you are better off with the current provider or switch to a rival operator, among other things. The programme apparently is complete, but instead of publicising it, the regulator has developed cold feet.



The concern is legal. Or else it will be inundated with legal cases if we put this up. It is now wondering what to do with it. Where to put it up, or who will put it up? The regulator feels that any operator at the wrong end of the programme would react viciously. One can understand, there would be a bit of subjectivity in any such model but there has to be a way out.



Subscribers’ interest is the paramount duty of watchdogs all over. It may be of interest to see how OFCOM, the UK telecom watchdog handles similar situations. At the outset, the watchdog concedes that offers and service providers’ prices vary so frequently that any general advice would be impossible. But far from throwing up its arms, it has come out with an Ofcom Pass, a Price Assurance Standard, which helps consumers compare prices of services "easily and confidently" and the "clearly explained price comparisons help consumers to make the most of the wide range of telecom services on offer". It has also authorised web sites which display prominently the Ofcom PASS logo and the regulator commits that the site provides "you with independent, accurate and up-to-date price information".