Rising cost of data a concern, Meity will reach out to Trai: MoS IT
The rising prices of data and devices are a concern for the rapid proliferation of digitisation, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Wednesday.
The comments have come against the backdrop of a recent hike of about 57 per cent in the minimum monthly recharge plan by the country's second-largest telco Bharti Airtel.
"Rise in cost of data or cost of devices is a matter of concern because they are impediments in rapid digitisation. We have a target to bring 120 crore Indians online by 2025. We have 83 crore Indians online today. We certainly see issues in rising cost of data consumption or any rise in the cost of devices," Chandrasekhar said on the sidelines of the India Stack Developer Conference.
The minister said that he has not studied the recent tariff hike in mobile services rates by Airtel and will wait for telecom regulator Trai to examine it.
"We are certainly going to talk to Trai, that's what is it? Is it short-term because of the ...