TRAI has released guidelines for international data roaming and global calling cards. The authority has recommended that international SIM cards and global calling cards companies must provide itemized bill to customers within 10 days of culmination of the journey.
The postpaid customer should be issued an itemized bill for chargeable or bundled free usage service that provides details such as date, time, pulse and actual rate of outgoing/ incoming calls, SMS and data usage. Majority of complaints are related to hefty charges levied on customers for accessing data services in the foreign land. The regulator observed lack of transparency on billing charges especially exorbitant charges on mobile internet activated without their permission.
The customer should be given the option by the firm to choose a data service or a voice service or combination of both. In case of a postpaid connection, there shall be a credit limit which may be fixed as per the customers requirement and customer be transparently informed of the same. The customer shall be informed through SMS/USSD message upon reaching 70% of the credit limit. If the credit limit is breached the services should be barred till such time the customer deposits the necessary amount with the operator.
At present, the prepaid international calling card is sold in over 185 countries around the world. The government has authorised 38 companies to sell international roaming SIMs. In India, such service providers are required to take a ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) from the department of telecom (DoT). The DoT has granted NOC to 38 firms for offering sale or rent of international SIM cards and global calling cards as on April 17, 2015.