A range of issues that telecom consumers should know was the highlight of the consumer outreach programme organised here on Tuesday by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The programme was organised to create awareness among the consumers of their rights and privileges. Explaining the roles and functions of TRAI, Sibichan K. Mathew, Adviser (Kerala and Karnataka), TRAI, told the audience about the facilities available to the consumers, including mobile number portability, value-added services, complaint redressal mechanism and tariff, and how to check unsolicited commercial communications among others. If a consumer was not satisfied with the redressal of his or her complaint registered at the customer care number, he/she could approach the appellate authority, Mr. Mathew said. The consumers could visit www.tccms.gov.in which gave the consumer care number, general information number and contact details of the complaint centre and appellate authority of the service provider, he said.
He also said that the service provider could not provide any chargeable value-added service without the explicit consent of a consumer. To curb unwanted commercial communications, the consumer had to register his/her preference by sending SMS/call to 1909. A subscriber could register his/her preference of registration, namely ‘fully blocked’ or ‘partially blocked,’ he said. He further said that mobile connections of prepaid consumers should not be deactivated for any period of non-usage less than 90 days. There should not be any deactivation if the balance in prepaid consumer account was Rs.20 or more, he said.
Digitisation
Mr. Mathew said that there would be complete transition to digital cable TV by December 31, 2014. It would provide various value-added services, including broadband for the consumers, he said adding that in the State all the urban areas would be digitised under phase 3 by September 30, 2014 and rural areas by December 31, 2014.
