Reliance Jio explains free call, data offer to Trai
New Delhi: Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has told telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) that its latest voice and data offer does not violate any of the existing norms that requires promotional offers to be limited to 90 days.
Replying to clarification sought by Trai on it extending the free call and data offer till 31 March after the promotional 90-day period expired on 4 December, Jio sent a detailed note explaining how its ‘Happy New Year Offer’ was different from the inaugural offer and does not qualify to be termed as predatory.
People with direct knowledge of the development said the company explained in detail how the new offer cannot be termed as extension of the promotional offer as it was different from the inaugural offer launched in early September. The response was to Trai’s letter dated 20 December, in which the regulator asked the company why its Rs.Happy New Year offer’ should not be seen as “violation” of regulatory guidelines and also why the offer of free data under the promotional scheme should not be treated as “predatory”.
ALSO READ | Trai asks Reliance Jio to explain why new offer not violation of norms
Jio has been maintaining that the latest Happy New Year offer is substantiatively different from the Jio Welcome Offer (that commenced on 5 September) as 4GB of free data per day was being provided under the initial offer, while the same was capped at 1GB (under Fair Usage Policy) in the new offer.
Jio is believed to have also emphasised that tariff plans have multiple components and if even a single component is altered, it cannot be construed as the same offer or its extension. Also, they 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.
ALSO READ | Reliance Jio is ready to pounce on rivals Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular
In terms of market dominance, Reliance Jio is 6% of the installations in the country whereas the Competition Commission of India (CCI) norms specify 30% threshold to trigger the Rs.misuse of market dominance’ clause.
Replying to clarification sought by Trai on it extending the free call and data offer till 31 March after the promotional 90-day period expired on 4 December, Jio sent a detailed note explaining how its ‘Happy New Year Offer’ was different from the inaugural offer and does not qualify to be termed as predatory.
People with direct knowledge of the development said the company explained in detail how the new offer cannot be termed as extension of the promotional offer as it was different from the inaugural offer launched in early September. The response was to Trai’s letter dated 20 December, in which the regulator asked the company why its Rs.Happy New Year offer’ should not be seen as “violation” of regulatory guidelines and also why the offer of free data under the promotional scheme should not be treated as “predatory”.
ALSO READ | Trai asks Reliance Jio to explain why new offer not violation of norms
Jio has been maintaining that the latest Happy New Year offer is substantiatively different from the Jio Welcome Offer (that commenced on 5 September) as 4GB of free data per day was being provided under the initial offer, while the same was capped at 1GB (under Fair Usage Policy) in the new offer.
Jio is believed to have also emphasised that tariff plans have multiple components and if even a single component is altered, it cannot be construed as the same offer or its extension. Also, they 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.
ALSO READ | Reliance Jio is ready to pounce on rivals Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular
In terms of market dominance, Reliance Jio is 6% of the installations in the country whereas the Competition Commission of India (CCI) norms specify 30% threshold to trigger the Rs.misuse of market dominance’ clause.
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