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TRAI issues guidelines on international mobile roaming to prevent “bill shocks”

Telecom companies like Jio, Airtel and Vi will be required to keep international roaming disabled by default for their subscribers. International roaming fees are among the most expensive problem that telecom customers face; making calls or accessing the internet on an Indian number is very expensive abroad, and significantly more so without an international tariff pack — "standard rates" mean that even 1GB of use could cost over ₹1,000. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Wednesday said that to avoid "bill shocks", all telcos will be required to keep such roaming options for users disabled unless they request it. TRAI is applying these new rules to both prepaid and postpaid plans, rejecting telecom operators' argument that bill shocks are not a concern for users who have already paid. "The prepaid subscribers also risk losing money to the extent of top up balances in their accounts and therefore are also vulnerable to bill shock," TRAI said in an explanatory memorandum. Consent within 30 days for existing users In addition to keeping international roaming deactivated by default, TRAI said that within thirty days of these regulations being published in the Gazette of India, telcos would have to reaffirm consent to international roaming from customers for whom the service is already active. Airtel already has international roaming deactivated by default, according to its terms and conditions. Vi says on its website that it has a basic international roaming plan activated by default for customers who don't buy active packs, and has a…

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