TRAI to examine Airtel and Jio complaints against Vodafone Idea

TL;DR: TRAI Chairman AK Lahoti said on September 14, 2026, that the regulator will examine representations from telecom operators after Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio raised concerns about Vodafone Idea's alleged efforts to induce customers to port to its network.

TRAI Chairman AK Lahoti said on September 14, 2026, that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India will examine representations it has received from operators after Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio raised concerns about Vodafone Idea's alleged attempt to nudge customers to switch networks.

Lahoti said the operators had expressed concerns against each other and that TRAI would examine what it had received. He did not say whether Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea would all be called for a detailed discussion or follow-up queries on the issue.

According to the complaint described in the report, one operator approached TRAI over the alleged circulation and promotion by Vodafone Idea of tariff benefits specifically linked to customers porting their mobile connections to the VIL network.

The letter cited TRAI's past position that preferential or differential tariff benefits offered exclusively to customers porting from another network are impermissible and amount to an inducement for churn. The letter also asked TRAI to direct Vodafone Idea to stop such promotional communications and submit a compliance report confirming the withdrawal of ads, campaigns, and sales practices linked to porting into the VIL network.