Telecom regulator TRAI posed some crucial questions to service providers on their offering of lifetime validity tariffs to see whether such plans would be viable in the long run.

In a consultation paper issued by the TRAI, the authority sought the views from all the stakeholders including industry and consumers to verify certain facts with regard to such tariff plans.

One of most important issues is whether lifetime can exceed the balance license period of the operators and if not, would the plans vary in their validity duration, TRAI said.

TRAI would also look into the issue whether tariff schemes with lifetime validity would have long-term viability and sustainability.

"Mobile operators have marketed and offered tariff schemes promising lifetime validity (with free incoming calls). In the views of the authority, there are some issues arising out of these plans and hence its needs to consult the consumers, service providers and all other interested parties about the impact of such long term plans," TRAI said.

The consultation paper discussed various aspects of tariff schemes with lifetime validity and its impact both on consumer and the telecom sector.

TRAI also sought views on whether such plans would have implications for the orderly growth of the sector and whether there would be a change in the tariffs in case of change in Interconnect Usage Charge (IUC) regime and others.

TRAI has asked the operators and other to furnish their views by the month end.

(www.financialexpress.com)