The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a directive reminding all access service providers to comply with the Telecommunication Tariff (Forty-Sixth Amendment) Order, 2008. Service providers must provide hard copies of telephone bills to post-paid subscribers free of cost unless the customer explicitly opts for electronic billing. TRAI noted that many companies were forcibly providing soft copies without consumer consent, which violates existing regulations. Providers must obtain and maintain written or email-based explicit consent from customers for electronic billing for at least one year. In all other cases, printed bills must be generated and delivered to the consumer at no additional charge.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a directive reminding all access service providers to comply with the Telecommunication Tariff (Forty-Sixth Amendment) Order, 2008. Service providers must provide hard copies of telephone bills to post-paid subscribers free of cost unless the customer explicitly opts for electronic billing. TRAI noted that many companies were forcibly providing soft copies without consumer consent, which violates existing regulations. Providers must obtain and maintain written or email-based explicit consent from customers for electronic billing for at least one year. In all other cases, printed bills must be generated and delivered to the consumer at no additional charge.