Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in an effort to bring transparency in telecom operators mass disconnection of inactive prepaid mobile connection has released a new regulation called ‘Deactivation of Cellular Mobile Telephone Connections due to Non-usage‘. Under the new regulation operators can’t disconnect SIMs with a Rs 20 balance and non-usage less than 90 days.
Currently telecom operators prescribe the condition of deactivation if the mobile connections remain inactive for some period of time. They contend that mobile connections in a state of continuous non-usage block scarce numbering resources and keeping such mobile connections active in the system for unduly long periods becomes non-remunerative. Also customers are correctly informed about this and any balance amount in the account gets forfeited. The new regulation from TRAI says –
In addition telecom operators need to implement a ‘Safe Custody Scheme’ for postpaid consumers on payment of a reasonable charge, during this time they will not be required to pay monthly rental.