Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio OTT TV Offerings Under Examination by TRAI

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is investigating if Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel violated tariff and broadcast regulations with their fixed-line broadband plans. This move follows Airtel’s complaint that the newly launched JioFiber Backup plans were predatory, hurt consumer interests, hindered competition, and disturbed the level playing field in the DTH digital TV space. In response, Jio asked TRAI to warn Airtel against making frivolous complaints. Tata Play, India’s largest DTH operator, also accused both operators of predatory pricing for bundling live TV channels and over-the-top (OTT) apps with their respective broadband offers.

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According to an ET report, the regulator is investigating whether JioFiber is violating tariff norms by offering live TV channels through broadband plans and also checking whether broadcasting regulations are being followed. TRAI is trying to get responses from the telcos within a week so that it can quickly decide the matter, although it may take a month to finally settle the matter.

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Airtel, India’s second-largest telco, claims that Jio was allowing broadcasting of live TV and over-the-top (OTT) apps, which contradicts broadcasting and downlinking rules. Airtel also has home broadband and direct-to-home (DTH) businesses. In its letter to TRAI, Airtel said, “Offering 400-550 live TV channels as part of a broadband offering well below market cost with a view to reduce competition is a clear case of predatory pricing and is in contravention of the TTO-1999 and requires immediate attention of the authority”.