Do you know Black out Day for Mobile Services

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the list of Black Out days for the year 2012. The TRAI list features various details including circle names and service providers. The list also includes the services such as SMS, Voice, GSM services that will be affected by the new norms.

The TRAI, which imposed a cap of 200 SMS per day per SIM last year, had excluded certain Black Out days, wherein users can send unlimited number of text messages. Users, however, gave a cold shoulder to the move, as telecom operators charge users at original base tariffs on Black Out days.

As per the TRAI list, Idea Cellular users in Mumbai circles will have following Black Out days - New Year (1st January), New Year Eve (31st December), Holi (8th March), Valentine's Day (14th February), Diwali (13th November). Check out the full list of Black Out days for different circles here.

As per TRAI, Service providers have to follow certain principles to ensure transparency in the charging of SMS on certain days which are generally termed as "SMS black-out" days. Any service provider implementing separate tariffs on blackout days has to ensure the following: 

i) The 'black out' days i.e. the days on which free/concessional SMS are not available shall be clearly indicated in the package itself.

ii) The SMS charges applicable on these special days shall be explicitly conveyed to the subscribers. 

iii) The dates corresponding to the black-out day shall not be altered after the pack is subscribed by the customer.

iv) There shall be no addition to the list of black out days after the pack is subscribed by the customer.

 

Airtel-           Andhra Pradesh- 2012     Service Name Description   Postpaid Charges Blackout SMS New Year eve,New Year Day,Sankranti,Dusshera,Diwaliare Black Out days when all P2P SMS will be charged at base price.   Base Price -No free & concessional SMS will be allowed on Blackout days

 

Blackout Days-TATAdocomo –AP-2012

Date	Blackout Day
1st Jan 12	New Year
23rd Mar 12	Ugadi
5th Aug 12	Friendship Day
13th Nov 12	Diwali
31st Dec 12	New Year Eve

 Only for CDMA Postpay mobile & Postpay Walky

Date	Blackout Day
1st Jan 12	New Year
14th Feb 12	Valentine's Day
5th Aug 12	Friendship Day
13th Nov 12	Diwali
31st Dec 12	New Year's EVE

 

Try TRAI handbook on consumer Rights http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/measuresto%20protectconsumerinterest/4_%20cphandbook.pdf