Airtel misleading, discriminating against users, accuses Jio
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has alleged that Bharti Airtel is violating tariff rules by issuing misleading offers and arbitrarily discriminating among its own customers subscribing to the same plan. Jio has demanded highest penalty for Airtel stating two of its plans are being marketed in a misleading manner. It also sought a direction to Airtel to immediately withdraw an offer.
By Prasoon Srivastava New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) In a new face-off, telecom operator Reliance Jio has alleged that Bharti Airtel is violating tariff rules by issuing misleading offers and arbitrarily discriminating among its own customers subscribing to the same plan. The Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has demanded highest penalty imposed on Sunil Bharti Mittals Bharti Airtel by telecom regulator Trai alleging that the two plans of Airtel -- priced at Rs 293 and Rs 449 respectively -- are being marketed in a misleading manner. It said that Airtels advertisements of these offers are an attempt to lure prospective subscribers making them believe that they will be provided 1 GB data per day for 70 days. "However, the subscribers who do not satisfy Airtels dual criteria, will be provisioned only 50 MB data and post that, they will be charged the exorbitant data tariff of Rs 4,000 per GB," Jio said. Under the said plans, Airtel is offering unlimited local and STD calls along with 1 GB of mobile internet per day for 70 days to customers with 4G handsets and 4G SIM. In case of Rs 293 plan, unlimited calling is limited within the Airtel network. Other Airtel customers availing these plans get only 50 MB of data usage per day for 35 days. Jio said that Airtel is offering these recharges "in a grossly discriminating basis by providing the headline data benefits of 1 GB data per day for 70 days only to the new subscribers holding a 4G handset in conjunction with a 4G compatible SIM card. All other subscribers are provided substantially lower data benefits of 50 MB for 35 days." Jio said that with reduction in validity of the plan for other set of customers, the value of voice calls also gets reduced. "Airtel has chosen to create an arbitrary distinction on the basis of subscribers possessing 4G handset and 4G SIM. It has arbitrarily reduced the validity of voice benefits under same recharge for the same class of subscribers without a 4G handset or 4G SIM...," Jio said. The new entrant alleged that the "arbitrary classification" by Airtel is a gross violation of the telecom tariff order 1999. When contacted, a Bharti Airtel spokersperson denied the allegations and said that the company is in full compliance of all regulatory guidelines, including tariff orders. "These allegations are nothing but a continuation of Reliance Jios standard ploy of blaming others for all its problems, including network deficiencies," the Airtel spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that what is even more ironic is that Jio itself offered free services for several months but is now pointing fingers at other operators, who are merely offering simple discounts to their own customers to retain them. 