Govt earns Rs 152 from every cellphone user each month: Cong slams govt over telecom tariff hikes

New Delhi: The Congress launched a fierce criticism of the BJP-led central government on Friday, addressing the recent tariff hikes by the three leading telecom operators: Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone. Senior Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala led the attack during a press conference.

Surjewala accused the government of betraying 109 crore Indian cell phone users by allowing private telecom companies to increase rates without any regulation or oversight. "How can the government permit private telecom firms to unilaterally hike rates?" Surjewala questioned, highlighting the absence of regulatory intervention.

Indian telecom users

The Indian cell phone market is dominated by three major operators:

• Reliance Jio: 48 crore users
• Airtel: 39 crore users
• Vodafone Idea: 22.37 crore users

A report by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) indicates that these companies earn an average of Rs 152.55 per month from each customer. The recent hikes, which occurred within a span of just 72 hours, have raised concerns about potential collusion among the operators.

Who hiked how much?

• June 27: Reliance Jio increased its rates by 12% to 27%.
• June 28: Airtel followed with a rate hike of 11% to 21%.
• June 29: Vodafone Idea raised its rates by 10% to 24%.

Surjewala emphasised the coordinated nature of these increases, suggesting that the companies may have consulted each other before announcing the hikes.

Congress aggressive on tariff hike 

The Congress's aggressive stance on this issue reflects broader concerns about the regulatory environment and consumer protection under the current government. By highlighting the financial burden on millions of Indian users, the Congress aims to pressure the BJP-led administration to take immediate actions.