Airtel in Trouble for Misleading Data Plans, Jio Demands Penalty

Reporter: Nandita Dutta, Editor: Sreoshi Bakshi

NEW DELHI, 28th April: In a new face-off, telecom operator Reliance Jio has alleged that Bharti Airtel is violating tariff rules by issuing misleading offers and arbitrarily discriminating among its own customers subscribing to the same plan.

The Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has demanded the highest penalty imposed on Sunil Bharti Mittal's Bharti Airtel by telecom regulator Trai alleging that the two plans of Airtel — priced at Rs 293 and Rs 449 respectively — are being marketed in a misleading. It said that Airtel's advertisements of these offers are an attempt to lure prospective subscribers making them believe that they will be provided 1 GB data per day for 70 days.

"However, the subscribers who do not satisfy Airtel's dual criteria will be provisioned only 50 MB data and post that, they will be charged the exorbitant data tariff of Rs 4,000 per GB," Jio said.

Under the said plans, Airtel is offering unlimited local and STD calls along with 1 GB of mobile internet per day for 70 days to customers with 4G handsets and 4G SIM. In case of the Rs 293 plan, unlimited calling is limited within the Airtel network. Other Airtel customers availing of these plans get only 50 MB of data usage per day for 35 days.

Jio said that Airtel is offering these recharges "on a grossly discriminating basis by providing the headline data benefits of 1 GB data per day for 70 days only to the new subscribers holding a 4G handset in conjunction with a 4G compatible SIM card. All other subscribers are provided substantially lower data benefits of 50 MB for 35 days." Jio said that with a reduction in validity of the plan for other sets of customers, the value of voice calls also gets reduced.

"Airtel has chosen to create an arbitrary distinction on the basis of subscribers possessing 4G handset and 4G SIM. It has arbitrarily reduced the validity of voice benefits under the same recharge for the same class of subscribers without a 4G handset or 4G SIM," Jio said.

The new entrant alleged that Airtel's "arbitrary classification" is a gross violation of the telecom tariff order 1999.

When contacted, a Bharti Airtel spokesperson denied the allegations and said that the company is in full compliance with all regulatory guidelines, including tariff orders.

"These allegations are nothing but a continuation of Reliance Jio's standard ploy of blaming others for all its problems, including network deficiencies," the Airtel spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that what is even more ironic is that Jio itself offered free services for several months but is now pointing fingers at other operators, who are merely offering simple discounts to their own customers to retain them. It said that Airtel's advertisements of these offers are an attempt to lure prospective subscribers making them believe that they will be provided 1 GB data per day for 70 days.

"However, the subscribers who do not satisfy Airtel's dual criteria will be provisioned only 50 MB data and post that, they will be charged the exorbitant data tariff of Rs 4,000 per GB," Jio said.

Under the said plans, Airtel is offering unlimited local and STD calls along with 1 GB of mobile internet per day for 70 days to customers with 4G handsets and spokesperson denied the allegations and said that the company is in full compliance with all regulatory guidelines, including tariff orders.

"These allegations are nothing but a continuation of Reliance Jio's standard ploy of blaming others for all its problems, including network deficiencies," the Airtel spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that what is even more ironic is that Jio itself offered free services for several months but is now pointing fingers at other operators, who are merely offering simple discounts to their own customers to retain them. "In fact, it is Jio that has been blatantly disregarding all guidelines and directions of the Trai," the spokesperson alleged.

Jio requested the regulator "to take strict action under the Act and impose highest penalty on Airtel" beside a direction to Airtel to immediately withdraw the tariff offer which is non-compliant and in breach of Trai rules.

In March, Jio challenged Airtel's advertisement which claimed that the telecom major has the fastest network before the Advertising Standards Council of India. The ad regulator decided in favour of Jio. However, Airteland imposes highest penalty on Airtel" beside a direction to Airtel to immediately withdraw the tariff offer which is non-compliant and in breach of Trai rules.

In March, Jio challenged Airtel's advertisement which claimed that the telecom major has the fastest network before the Advertising Standards Council of India. The ad regulator decided in favour of Jio. However, Airtel has appealed to the ASCI to review its derision.