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TRAI: In India, important sectors like banking, the stock market, and insurance are overseen by different regulatory bodies.

TRAI: In India, important sectors like banking, the stock market, and insurance are overseen by different regulatory bodies. The RBI regulates banking, SEBI regulates the stock market, and IRDAI regulates the insurance sector. These institutions not only formulate rules but also take action on customer complaints. If a consumer faces a problem with a service, they can directly contact these regulators.

TRAI's responsibility in the telecom sector

In India, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is responsible for monitoring telecom services. Its objective is to set rules for telecom companies, maintain fair competition, and protect consumer interests. On paper, TRAI's role seems quite strong, but the ground reality tells a different story.

Mobile users' long-standing problems

For the past few years, mobile users have been continuously demanding intervention from TRAI. One of the biggest complaints is the constant calls and messages received before the recharge plan expires. Companies start sending frequent calls, SMS, and notifications 3-4 days before the plan's validity ends. Not only that, users also have to listen to IVR messages during outgoing calls.

Users have described this behavior as harassing and have repeatedly demanded that TRAI regulate it, but so far, no concrete rules or strict action have been seen.

Demand for affordable recharge plans

After recharge plans became more expensive in July, users intensified their demand for affordable plans simply to keep their SIM cards active. In this matter, TRAI did intervene and asked telecom companies to introduce voice-only plans without data.

Following this, companies introduced voice-only plans ranging from Rs. 400 to Rs. 2000 with varying validity periods. However, a large number of users still consider these plans expensive. They are demanding that TRAI compel companies to introduce cheaper plans with shorter validity periods of 7 or 15 days.

Questions about 4G and 5G coverage maps

TRAI had directed all telecom operators to make their 4G and 5G network coverage maps public. Most private companies complied with this order, but the case of the government-owned telecom company BSNL is different.

BSNL initially released the coverage map, but it has not been available to users for the past 6-7 months. Despite this, TRAI has neither issued any strict directives nor imposed any penalties.

Are the voices of mobile users being heard?

Issues such as problems related to recharges, rising prices, and lack of information are constantly surfacing. Despite this, TRAI's actions appear incomplete or slow in many cases. This naturally raises the question of whether the telecom regulator is truly able to fully protect consumer interests in this rapidly changing sector, or whether the voices of mobile users will continue to go unheard.