CONSUMERS IN THE TELECOM REVOLUTION

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CONSUMERS IN THE TELECOM REVOLUTION

• Cellular Phone Users Association of India (Regd.)

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CONSUMERS IN THE TELECOM REVOLUTION
Telecom Revolution What it means to the
individual users?
From Prohibitive Cellular Telephony and
Waitlisted Landlines to popularly affordable
mobile phone telephone on demand From Simple
Value Added Services(Caller ID/Call Waiting) to
hassle free Pre-Paid Services
Music/Multimedia/ Content Downloads. From Public
Sector Monopoly/ no competition to vibrant
competition
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CONSUMERS IN THE TELECOM REVOLUTION

• Subscribing a serviceStill a problem area for
  consumers
• Lack of simple registration process and timely
  activation of service. More prevalent with PSUs
  namely MTNL BSNL.
• Lack of Single Window Concept especially _at_ Public
  Sector Operators . Activation of STD, still a
  difficult task with Public Sector Operators.

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CONSUMERS IN THE TELECOM REVOLUTION

• Customer Care for Subscribers
• Lack of effective grievance redressal mechanism
  for subscribers. As per Latest Data published by
  TRAI (QoS December 05) almost all operators are
  found lacking in one circle or other but Reliance
  (CDMA), Idea BSNL are frontrunners.

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CONSUMERS IN THE TELECOM REVOLUTION

• Problem areas
• Network Performance
• Blocked Call Rate
• Call Drop Rate
• Voice Quality
• Call Success Rate Service Access
• Billing complaints Penal Clauses, Repeat
  mention of
• bills already paid
• Refund of Security Deposit Major issue with
  Public Sector Operators.

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CONSUMERS IN THE TELECOM REVOLUTIONTARIFF
ISSUESDespite of falling tariffs, (Still beyond
reach of many.)License Fees (upto 12), USO
contribution (5), Excise/CVD-customs duty(5
Upwards) and Sales tax(4-8) etc. (for telecom
subscriber and network equipment)Service
Tax.(8-10) One time entry fees ADC Most
irrational, tax over tax!, Non-transparent,
Undesirable and anti-consumer!!
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CONSUMERS IN THE TELECOM REVOLUTION

• HELP THE CONSUMER POLICY INITIATIVES
• Augment Infrastructure Make Interconnection
  available on demand, Resolve Spectrum Issues etc.
• Promote 3G Services.
• Enforce QoS.
• Reduce License fees, Taxes Consequential Burden
  of consumers. Telecom should not be looked as a
  Milking Cow for tax kitty.
• Single window redressal of Grievances for
  consumers.
• Policy Initiatives must lead to Synergistic
  Networks in line with International Practices

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• THANK YOU
• Celluser_at_hotmail.com