How to stay away from IUC?

Photo by Thomas Millot on Unsplash

Jio, a company which upended the Indian telecom industry, recently announced that they will be passing on Interconnect Usage Charge (IUC) at prevailing rates of 6p per minute to its customers calling other mobile networks. This does not apply to calls made within the Jio network or to calls made to landlines. Since the announcement, people have taken to social media platforms to exhibit their frustration surrounding IUC. While many customers are annoyed about having to pay extra over their existing tariffs, Jio is urging everyone to fight with them against TRAI and other incumbent network providers to abolish IUC. Wondering how you can do that? Let us explain.

1. Go to Twitter and tweet out your frustration tagging @TRAI, and let them know how you feel about IUC. Let them know how it is unfair that even 3 years after the whole Jio 4G revolution, most people on other networks are still using 2G/3G networks which is the old technology. It takes investment as well as technological advancement to be able to upgrade a network to 4G. Without having done that, there cannot be symmetry in traffic, as more than 65% of incumbent customers are still on 2G/3G. Therefore, these customers do not even have the privilege of enjoying free voice calling.
2. You could also go on to Facebook and do the same by tagging TRAI.
3. If you are very enthusiastic like us, you could also write a blog or an open letter to TRAI and post it on these social media platforms to amplify your opinion.
4. If you are not much of a social media aficionado, then don’t worry. There is another way to get your message through to TRAI and have your voice heard. You could sign a petition on Change.org which briefly talks about IUC and why TRAI needs to abolish it. The petition urges TRAI to make IUC zero. You can click here to sign the petition.

In the meanwhile, there are a few other ways you can keep yourself from having to pay for IUC.

1. VoIP Calling: You could simply switch to calling those on other networks via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or any other app that lets you call using your internet. These services are free to call, and IUC doesn’t apply to them.
2. Port to Jio: If all else is just too much for you, you could simply ask your friends/family to simply switch to Jio. Jio to Jio calling is free and as it stands, Jio is already the largest network of India with the most number of subscribers.

In 2017, TRAI stated that they would reduce in IUC rates from 6 paise/minute to zero by January 01, 2020. However, recently, they have sought opinions on whether this deadline should be extended. However, this extension would mean a continued prolonging of what amounts to a subsidy from some telcos to others. Let’s do what we can and make sure that unnecessary charges like IUC are abolished by TRAI.