Vodafone Idea Thinks Jio And Airtel Indulge In Predatory Pricing, Complains To TRAI

Vodafone Idea (Vi) has accused Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel of predatory pricing with their unlimited 5G offers, according to a report by leading media house.

India’s third largest telco has reportedly complained to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Jio and Airtel for the same.

Vi has asked TRAI to act against the companies stating that both telcos are significant market players and cannot offer 5G for free for unlimited time as its affects other players such as itself.

Both Jio and Airtel have refuted that allegations when TRAI sought their responses. They said that the offering cannot be termed predatory as the 5G has a very small user base with the network rollout still under progress, according to the report. They also added that the 5G offering is being delivered as part of 4G packs and are being charged in line with those tariffs.

The report mentioned that TRAI had also sought details from Jio and Airtel on their unlimited 5G offers.  According to the report, TRAI officials said that a decision needs to be taken after a thorough examination of the delicate matter, keeping in mind that it should not affect the uptake of 5G services in the country.

Jio and Airtel have been aggressively expanding their 5G network in India since last year with an eye on capturing a larger pie of the 5G market in the country. Meanwhile, Vi, weighed down by financial constraints has lost subscribers month after month as the other two ramp up their services. The company is expected to suffer further if it does not launch its 5G services soon.