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NEW DELHI: The Association of Basic Telecom Operators (ABTO) has asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to allow flexible and alternative tariff packages for limited mobility WLL services.

In a letter to Mr M.S. Verma, Chairman, TRAI, the association has noted that WLL services cannot be considered as a value-added service, since the scope of the service (within the SDCA) is similar to that of wireline services.

``Since basic operators are required to offer services to all segments of users, it is necessary to be able to offer alternative tariffs, so that all segments of customers can be encouraged to adopt WLL services. The whole purpose of allowing WLL services to basic operators is to allow faster spread of telephony at affordable rates, so that the objectives of NTP'99 are achieved,'' they have noted. The association has further added that the rigidity with which the tariff structure is being implemented is working at cross-purposes to the objectives of the Government. The letter also notes that there is a widespread substitution of basic services by cellular services.

This has happened due to the flexibility that cellular operators have in tailoring their offerings so as to address all sections of the society. ``It is surprising to note that cellular services, which are conceived as premium services, are allowed to offer more attractive combinations to various segments of the customers. We believe that tariff fixation principles should be the same for all services, especially for WLL and cellular services which are supposed to be cost-based,'' ABTO has said.

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