Reliance Jio, the leading telecom company in India, has announced that it will be slacking the voice call charges. When the IUC (Interconnection Usage Charge) was put to an end, Jio also decided to deduct charges for domestic calls. Jio users can now make free voice calls from Jio to other networks across India. Jio’s free voice call to other operator starts from 1st January 2021.
IUC charge Abolition Implemented
Jio decided to cut off the voice call charges after the termination of the interconnect usage charges (IUC). According to Reliance Jio, telecom operators were paying 6 paisa per minute for the voice call as the interconnection charge. Following the abolition of IUC, Jio reduced the charge to zero and implemented the ‘Bill and Keep’ regime.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) extended the IUC implementation till 2020 in 2019. Jio was always vocal about not charging on domestic calls. It promised to cut off those charges once IUC terminates. Jio lived up to its promise and offered free voice calls to its 406 million subscribers across India.
Jio is one of those telecom companies in India that aims to provide telecom service at a minimal price. Their recent decision to make domestic voice calls free proves their intention and care for the people. Jio is now offering free voice calls, and this service is something that should pitch in Nepal too.
Check out: Nepal Telecom WiMAX Suffers Interference from Jio
Free voice call to all networks in Nepal
Though the voice call service should be accessible regardless of the income level, having network access to make voice calls is still not affordable. If voice calls were free of cost, the connectivity access would improve to people with low income and those who reside in rural areas. The telecom operators in Nepal should also find a way to reduce the voice call charges so that people from the inferior background can afford the voice calls.
Do checkout: Voice call rate in Ncell, Ntc and Smart Cell.
The revenue of telcos in Nepal is highly dependent on voice calls. The income from voice calls accumulates around 60 to 70% of the revenue. If NTA could lessen the IUC for the telcos, then the telcos may be able to provide free voice calls. But, since the telco companies are already bearing huge losses in net profit and revenue, for them to provide free voice calls may perhaps be difficult.
After deducting voice call charges at the start of 2021, Jio wishes to launch the 5G service in the second half of 2021. Hopefully, the 5G projects in Nepal also accelerates, and may 2021 be the year that welcomes the 5G service in Nepal.
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