No spam calls, SMSs; TRAI announces exceptions

It seems that this time Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is very strict on its guidelines to curb all unwanted telemarketing calls and messages from today.

After the 100 SMS limit implemented by all mobile operators now Bulk and Free SMS web portal’s have also implemented the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Sixth Amendment) Regulations, 2011 to stop the menace of telemarketing SMSes and made all the changes in their SMS system.

India’s leading Free and Bulk SMS Web portal WAY2SMS.COM today said that that it has strictly adheres to TRAI guidelines from today i.e. Sept 27th in order to protect consumer privacy from SMS spammers. Way2SMS has also cited that it will not be sending any group SMS to DND registered mobile numbers.

Changes on Way2Sms

According to the New TRAI guidelines, Starting from Sept 27th 2011 messages sent via group SMS does not deliver SMSes to DND Registered mobile numbers. However the best part in Way2SMS it displays if a user comes under DND list or not while submitting message.

Also Way2SMS is changing its group Message structure. Messages sent via group SMS will be sent as TD- 677800 (677800 is the Unique number allotted by Telecom operator to way2sms) as the sender.Users Mobile number and a 8 letter Nick name will be inserted in your message by default. No longer you can send group message with mobile number as sender. However users can continue to enjoy 140 characters message same as before.

Also According to TRAI new regulations, way2sms does not allow group messaging between 9PM to 9AM every day.

Even E-Commerce websites like Flipkart and letsbuy have also notified its users in case of letsbuy it has asked its users to send SMS “START 6” to 1909 where as in case of Flipkart it has asked users to Send “START 5″ to 1909 to activate partial-DND which will be help users to receive SMS alerts from all ‘Consumer Goods’ companies.

Image credit : Way2SMS

How To Register/ De-Register for DND through IVR/ SMS on 1909.

You can register for the fully blocked category in which no commercial call or SMS will be allowed or for the partially blocked category where u will not receive any commercial call but will receive SMS on categorie(s) that you opt for.

THROUGH IVR : Call 1909 (toll free) and select preference required for activation/deactivation (Full DND/Partial DND)

TO REGISTER THROUGH SMS : To opt for the fully blocked category, send SMS “START 0” to 1909 .

To opt for the partially blocked category, send SMS “Start ”to 1909 as per the categories given below : For e.g. “START 1” for receiving SMS relating to Health·

If u want to choose more than 1 category send START 1,2 to 1909 : 1. Health 2. Education 3. Tourism and leisure 4. Banking / Insurance / Financial Products 5. Consumer goods and automobiles 6. Real Estate 7. Communication / Broadcasting / Entertainment / IT

TO DE- REGISTER THROUGH SMS
for the fully blocked category, send SMS “STOP 0” to 1909.

Note:Your request for registration on the NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY will be given effect to in 7 days from the date of request.

Government of India earns Rs. 1.78 billion from DTH license fees

Government of India earns Rs. 1.78 billion from DTH license fees

The Government of India earned a total revenue of Rs. 1.78 billion through licence fees from the country's various direct to home (DTH) satellite TV operators for the year 2010-2011.

Dish TV, Tata Star, Sun Direct, Airtel Digital TV, Reliance Digital TV, and Videocon d2h were the biggest revenue contributors with a combined figure of Rs. 1.26 billion. Earlier in 2008-2009 the government had earned Rs. 893 million in the absence of Airtel Digital TV and Videocon d2h.

The DTH companies were all required to pay a one-time entry fee amounting to Rs.100 million apart from the annual licence fee.

In the last three financial years Dish TV has paid a total of Rs. 1.5 billion. Other companies' payments are as follows:

1) Tata Sky- Rs. 1.48 billion

2) Sun Direct- Rs. 729.87 million

3) Airtel Digital TV- Rs. 359.5 million

4) Reliance Digital TV- Rs. 207.29 million

5) Videocon d2h- Rs. 2.01 million

Why Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular want to raise tariffs

A general trend by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular, India's big three GSM operators, to raise prepaid tariffs has got many customers irked.

But a close look at the tariff numbers of the Indian mobile sector over the last two years reveals the reason for the move. It points out that hammered by competition, many operators are now getting less than 39 paise per minute of outgoing calls.

To understand the situation, one has to rewind the clock to early 2009 when the first 'new operator', Reliance GSM set foot on what till then a cosy market for GSM operators.

Anil Ambani’s Reliance Commmunication entry was a rude interruption to the then prevailing ‘friendly fight’ situation between the three big GSM operators.

However, as the numbers reveal, even at the end of that quarter, GSM operators were still sitting pretty. Their average realization (tariff) was 76 paise per minute of outgoing call, both for prepaid and contract (billing) customers.

On the other hand, the CDMA operators, represented by Reliance and Tata Teleservices, were on a much harsher pitch.

Their average billing rate was just 51 paise per minute for prepaid customers, who comprised 93% of their subscribers. In other words, GSM operators were enjoying 50% higher tariffs compared to CDMA ones.

In fact, since all operators have to pay 20 paise per minute to the operator on whose line the ‘called’ subscriber is, a CDMA operator would be left with just 31 paise per minute for most of his calls, while a GSM operator would have 56 paise, or 81% more.

This ‘high tariff paradise’ was successfully beseiged by the two CDMA operators, Reliance and Tata Teleservices, throughout 2009.

While Tata Tele announced a tariff of 1 paise per second (in effect 56 paise per minute,) while Reliance announced a 50 paise per minute scheme, open to all subscribers.

Of course, neither had much to lose, as they were, in effect, only making around 51 paise per minute anyway.

But the impact was felt on the GSM operators. Over the next eight quarters, their average prepaid billing rate dropped drastically, ending at 49 paise per minute at the end of the first quarter of 2011. Worse, from 94% of total users in early 2009, prepaid users rose to 97% of the total users (see the chart.)

Of course, part of the reason for the drastic drop in average billing rates is the presence of subscribers of new operators like Uninor, Videocon, Tata DoCoMo who offer calls rates of around 40 paise per minute, even for long distance STD.

It is believed for the big three, average call rates are still around 60 paise per minute, which they now seem to want to raise to around 70 paise per minute.

The average tariff numbers also reveal other interesting trends.

For example, as a consumer, your chances of finding the cheapest call rates is with a prepaid CDMA provider such as Reliance or Tata Indicom or MTS.

The average tariff, as of March 2011, for prepaid CDMA is just 38 paise per minute, compared to 49 paise for GSM prepaid.

That is not to say that all CDMA customers are lucky or that they enjoy the cheapest call rates or plans in India.

In fact, the highest tariffs are also charged by CDMA operators, though only from billing or postpaid users.

The average realization for postpaid CDMA customers is 84 paise per minute, 22% higher than the average tariff of GSM billing customers (69 paise.)

In fact, even as all other rates have been falling, the CDMA operators have ‘defied gravity’ by continuously raising the average tariff charged from their ‘post-pay’ customers.

Two years ago, the average tariffs paid by a CDMA and GSM post-pay and a GSM prepaid customers were all the same -- 76 paise per minute.

While the other two declined, the average CDMA billing customer is now paying 84 paise per minute.

What’s more, they have largely managed to maintain their prepaid to billing ratio. From 93% in early 2009, it has moved to only 94% of total customers now, compared to 97% for GSM.

Idea Cellular launches 3G services in Chennai

Idea has launched 3G services in Chennai, joining hands with Vodafone, using their existing 3G networks in the state.

Airtel, Vodafone, Aircel and BSNL are the only operators in the Chennai and TN circle who are licensed to provide 3G services currently. However, a recent tower sharing agreement between Airtel, Idea and Vodafone was signed enabling each of the operators to provide pan-India 3G coverage by sharing their High Speed 3G networks in all circles.

Here's a list of the 3G packs offered by the operator alongside the free Data Usage.



Note:

• Idea Cellular is currently promoting its 3G services by a Double Dhamaka offer in various cities throughout the country. The free Data usage in the packs above would be halved after Idea withdraws this offer.
• 3G Services can be activated by doing an E-Recharge of any of the above denominations. Maximum of 4 hours for activation.
• Once Idea users have activated 3G, 'Vodafone IN' would be displayed as the carrier instead of 'Idea' on their cellphone as the network completely switches over.
• These plans are for both prepaid and postpaid users