NEW DELHI: Roaming charges levied by different operators have to be within the ceiling tariff prescribed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) after due consultation process with all stakeholders, minister of state for communications and information technology Dr. Shakeel Ahmad said in Parliament today.

TRAI had found justifiable grounds for review of the tariff structure applicable for roaming services that had been fixed five years back, he added.

The Cellular Operators Association of India had submitted that the customer tariffs are already lowest in the world and consistently coming down and thus, roaming tariffs should also be left to market forces.

TRAI has prescribed a composite ceiling charge for regional/national roaming effective from 15th February, 2007, based on in-depth analysis of various elements of cost, data on costs, views of stakeholders, the prevailing tariff for calls originated in home networks and other relevant factors. The Cellular Operators have already revised roaming tariff accordingly.