Amid concerns raised by Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio over rival Vodafone Idea's alleged attempt to nudge telecom customers to switch to its network, TRAI Chairman AK Lahoti on Monday said the regulator will examine representations it has received from the operators.

In response to a PTI query, Vodafone Idea (VIL) said it believes in fair competition and competes on the strength of its products and customer value, and maintained that it conducts business in compliance with the law.

Put simply, MNP or mobile number portability, allows telecom users to switch from one operator to another without changing the mobile number.

According to reports, concerns were raised by telcos over Vodafone Idea’s alleged practices aimed at coaxing customers to switch networks.

Emails sent to Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio did not elicit a response.

Asked whether the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is examining the matter reportedly raised by Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio against Vodafone Idea, Lahoti said: “When we get representation from any operator, we look into it...they (telcos) have expressed some concerns against each other. We will examine whatever has come”.

Lahoti, speaking on the sidelines of an event organised by industry body COAI, however, declined to specify whether all three telecom operators will be called for a detailed discussion or follow-up query on the issue.

When contacted, a Vodafone Idea spokesperson, in response to a PTI query, said: “At Vi, we believe in fair competition, strength of our products and the value we deliver to our customers. At all times, we conduct our business in compliance with the law”.

Recently, one of the operators approached the Trai over alleged circulation and promotion by Vodafone Idea of tariff benefits specifically linked to customers porting their mobile connections to the VIL network.

In a letter, the operator highlighted Trai’s past stated position that extending preferential or differential tariff benefits exclusively to customers porting from another network is impermissible and amounts to an inducement for churn.

The continued circulation of the offers despite the issue having been specifically raised with VIL demonstrates a disregard for the regulatory framework and warrants immediate intervention by Trai, according to a letter sent to the regulator by one of the telcos on September 2, 2026.

The letter also urged Trai to direct VIL to immediately cease the circulation of such promotional communications and to submit a compliance report confirming withdrawal of all ads, campaigns, and sales practices that link tariff benefits to porting into the VIL network.

On objections raised by one of the telcos over discounted tariff plans with regard to mobile number portability, a source privy to VIL’s stance said the company is giving discounts to all new customers and all its plans are reported to Trai under the regular reporting process.

Published on September 14, 2026