Reliance Jio flagged Airtel complaint as “frivolous attempt to protect its own interest”

Reliance Jio flagging the complaint filed by Airtel as a “frivolous attempt to protect its own interest” has asked TRAI to dismiss the complaint. Bharti Airtel filed the complaint to TRAI through a letter in which it alleged Reliance Jio giving predatory offers of Live TV channels to the consumer.

“This complaint is a deliberate malicious attempt by Bharti Airtel Limited (Airtel) to defame RJIL’s consumer-friendly tariffs in order to protect its narrow interests. A close reading of the complaint letter would clearly establish that Airtel’s sole grouse is that JioFiber is offering reasonable tariffs to customers. Evidently, all its unsubstantiated claims of predation, non-level playing field, and non-compliance with TTOs and NTO are just woven around this singular theme and this complaint should be dismissed simply on the ground of being a frivolous attempt to protect its own interests. Further, Airtel should be warned against making such frivolous complaints in the future,” Jio said in its letter to TRAI.

Recently Jio announced the broadcast of IPL 2023 on Jio TV using wireless and wireline telecom networks. In reference to this Airtel has asked TRAI to create a regulatory framework for content aired on broadband networks. According to Airtel, the broadcast of content through wireless and wireline broadband service in the absence of a regulatory framework has created an anti-competitive environment for competitive technologies such as IPTV, MSO, and HITS.

By giving an example of Airtel’s service of offering free OTT apps subscription with Fibre plans Jio countered Airtel’s complaint and said “By virtue of the customer’s subscription to OTT apps along with JioFiber services, they also get access to these channels on OTT apps as well, which is in line with current market practice even being followed by Airtel. For instance, Airtel also offers apps like Disney+Hotstar, Sony Liv, Lionsgate, HoiChoi, etc. with its Fibre plans,”.

“JPL offers access to TV channels only as an aggregator through OTT application and not otherwise as alleged by Airtel and therefore Airtel’s complaint has no basis,” it added