Telecom regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has asked the telecom service providers in the country to refrain from raising the call rates within the six months of introducing a tariff plan.

The regulator has not imposed any restriction on the rates. It is believed that the move will protect customers from frequent price hikes in tariff plans that are sometimes implemented even without notifying the customers.

"A tariff plan once offered by an access provider shall be available to a subscriber for a minimum period of six months from the date of enrolment of the subscriber to that tariff plan," Trai said. It pointed out that service providers are free to reduce tariffs at any time but they cannot increase prices for a tariff item in a plan.

The rules will also allow subscribers to change tariff plans during the six month period after the launch of the plan. It said that all plan change requests must to implemented immediately or form the next billing cycle.

The regulator said in its consumers' handbook. The handbook contains all the regulations, orders and directions that are issued by the watchdog for the industry. A senior official pointed out that t is important for the regulator to help customers understand all the regulations available for the protection of their rights.