TRAI asks operators to print mobile and land phone bills

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) announced its recommendations on issuing printed copy of the bills to the landline subscribers and mobile post-paid subscribers free of cost.
TRAI chairman
The latest recommendations indicate that telecom operators will continue to print copy of the bills. Operators can send e-bills if the subscribers decide to opt for. Mobile operators cannot make e-bills as a default option.

India has 1182 million mobile phone – pre-paid and post-paid customers and 21.79 million land phone customers in 2018. Nearly 5 percent of 1182 million mobile phone customers on post-paid platforms. This means, the total number of post-paid customers is around 60 million. 90 percent of 60 million customers have already opted for e-bills.

TRAI said telecoms to send printed copy of the bills to the landline subscribers and mobile post-paid subscribers free of cost, as a default option and an option to the subscriber to switch over to e-bill if he gives an explicit consent.

Telecom service providers pleaded for changing the default option to e-bills citing reasons such as environmental concerns and cost of printing.

TRAI said it would be feasible for the e-literate subscribers to make a choice for e-bill. In fact a large number of subscribers of different segments who could not be persuaded to the e-bill mode, would be those who have no internet access or are incapable to make an informed and effective choice.