TRAI Gives Reliance Jio 5 Days to Clarify ‘Happy New Year’ Offer

The telecom operator has extended its free internet offer to 31 March, beyond the available 90-day limit.

Reliance Jio has a big presence in cities like Pune. (Photo: The Quint)

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked Reliance Jio to explain why the extension of its free voice and data plan should not be seen as violation of existing regulations requiring promotional offers to be limited to 90 days.

TRAI shot off the letter after the Mukesh Ambani-led firm announced free data and voice calls for existing and new customers under the 'Happy New Year Offer', days before the 90-day inaugural welcome plan ended on 3 December.

In the letter dated 20 December 2016, the regulator, who is in the process of examining the new plan by Reliance Jio, also asked why the offer of free data under the promotional scheme should not be treated as "predatory".

When contacted, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL) did not offer any comments on the issue.

Sources with direct knowledge of the development said the regulator in its letter had cited RJIL's consumer base growing to 63 million as on 18 December to state that the company will become a significant market player in the broadband space shortly, maybe by the end of December.

TRAI is learnt to have asked RJIL to clarify as to “why the offer of free data under the promotional offer should not be treated as predatory.”

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Another source said that in a meeting with TRAI, Jio has said that the latest Happy New Year Offer is substantiatively different from the Jio Welcome Offer (that commenced on 5 September) as in the initial offer where it had provided 4GB of free data per day, and under the new offer, the same was capped at 1GB under Fair Usage Policy.

Jio has been given five days to clarify on the issues raised by the regulator.

They also contend that in the first offer there was no option of renewal or payment after the 4GB limit was exhausted, but in the new offer, one can recharge both data and the promised speed.

In terms of market dominance, Reliance Jio is six percent of the installations in the country whereas the Competition Commission of India (CCI) norms specify 30 percent threshold to trigger the ‘misuse of market dominance’ clause.

Sources say, TRAI has also asked Jio to give an estimated month-wise projection of the number of subscribers that are expected to be added till 31 March, 2017.