Free roaming, ain’t that a great idea!!! It would be great for the consumers and damper of the telecom service providers. The huge and at times the absurd roaming charges within India may soon become a passé as DoT has recommended that the country be considered as a single region!!!
As of now, India is divided into 22 circles and every time mobile consumers make or receive calls outside their home circle, they have to pay hefty roaming charges. The recommendation from the DoT is to completely do way with the circle concept, which would in turn totally nullify the concept as well as issues related with roaming.
But the telecom industry will not take it easy with this recommendation, as it would mean further cut into the revenue of the sector already hit by the declining ARPU. Although, many countries have already done away with roaming charges, the Indian consumers kept on shelling the charges. Hence, the DoT efforts will be appreciated and welcomed by all the consumers.
To do away with the seeming protest that India cannot be considered as a single circle, DoT suggested that the country can be divided into four regions. In this case, it will help consumers avoid roaming charges when travelling within a region; for example if one is travelling all over North India, roaming charges won’t apply.
All the idea is fantastic, but to implement it will take time and crossing several hurdles. Since, there is no timeframe as of now—so only time will say when it will be implemented and hence make the life (or rather the pockets) of mobile users easy.
