The Indian telecom regulator TRAI has set up guidelines for how telecom operators can activate mobile Internet services for consumers, apparently put limitations on auto renewal, and indicated that telecom operators have to provide consumers with data consumption information as per intervals specified by the TRAI. Why has the TRAI done this? They've received complaints covering some fairly important malpractices from telecom operators, which have historically been the masters of deducting money from a consumers wallet (often without consent). Complaints that the TRAI has received include: 1. Bill shock because telecom operators do not inform consumers of amount of data consumed in a session, especially when concessional tariff is offered up to a certain limit, after which consumers are pushed to much higher priced plans for data usage. The TRAI agrees that rates beyond the rate for the tariff voucher is higher, and leads to bill shot or unexpected deduction of balance amount. 2. Activation of internet services on mobile phones without consent and deduction of charges for data usage. The TRAI has told Telecom Operators that they must, by 1st November 2015: 1. Information regarding data used after every 10 MB, via SMS or USSD, except users of special data packs (STV/Combo/add-on-pack). Consumers can opt out of these updates. MediaNama's take: USSD is the worst possible option here because consumers will not be able to keep track of it, but this is tricky since multiple SMS' can become irritating. Perhaps the TRAI should have considered SMS' every 20 or…
