Govt Will Pay Telecom Operators For Sending SMS Alerts During Disasters

The government will pay telecom operators Rs 0.02 or 2 paisa for sending SMS alerts or messages during disaster and non-disaster situations.

Now, in a bid to remove ambiguity, a uniform rate has been prescribed. Representative image.

The government will pay telecom operators Rs 0.02 or 2 paisa for sending SMS alerts or messages during disaster and non-disaster situations. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued amended Telecom Tariff rules related to sending out SMS alerts cell broadcasts and messages relating to a disaster.

"The Authority decided to prescribe tariff of Rs.0.02 (paisa two only) for SMS Alerts/ messages sent during disaster and non-disaster situations, other than those sent as per as per directions issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (53 of2005)," said a media release.

Previously, the rates were not prescribed and telecom operators were paid on a case to case basis. However, now, in a bid to remove ambiguity, a uniform rate has been prescribed.

"Considering the significance of alerts/messages sent as per direction issued under the Disaster Management Act,2005 (53 of 2005), the Authority has decided that no charges shall be levied for such SMS/Cell Broadcast - Alerts/messages sent either during disaster or prior to notification of disaster or after expiry of disaster," TRAI said.

"TSPs shall broadcast messages to all the subscribers through Cell broadcast free of cost during disaster and non-disaster period," TRAI added.

The new rules have become effective today (December 7). Tariffs will be chargeable by terminating the carrier from the originator of text messages. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India will review the tariff after two years.

"DOT allows SMS/Cell Broadcast free of cost only for a definite period and for events where specific request for free-of-cost messages comes from NEC/NCMC/SEC/Nodal Authorities. However, there are occasions when the government would like to send alert messages to the public forewarning of a possible disaster or occasions where the public has to be informed of special events such as holding of relief/vaccine/medical camps/specific law and order related situations etc," the media release added.