India’s telecom operators are seeking a sharp increase in international call termination charges, asking the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to raise the rate to as much as ₹5 per minute from the current ceiling of 65 paise. The proposed revision would change how overseas telecom companies pay Indian operators when international calls are connected to mobile and fixed-line networks in India.
The demand, reiterated by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), comes amid concerns about currency depreciation, unequal international calling rates and fraudulent calls originating overseas. In a report published on November 1, 2026, Business Standard said operators want TRAI to hold separate consultations on the issue rather than wait for its broader review of telecom interconnection regulations. The proposal is an industry demand, not an approved tariff change.
Key Takeaways
- Indian telecom operators want international call termination charges raised from a maximum of ₹0.65 to as much as ₹5 per minute.
- The charge is paid by an overseas carrier when an international call terminates on an Indian telecom network.
- Operators say they pay foreign carriers approximately ₹3–₹3.50 per minute for outgoing international calls.
- COAI has cited rupee depreciation and the imbalance between incoming and outgoing call rates.
- Telcos also argue that low termination charges make India attractive for fraudulent international calling traffic.
- TRAI has not approved the requested increase, and the current framework remains in place.
What Are International Call Termination Charges?
International termination charges are payments made by an overseas telecom operator or its intermediary to an Indian telecom company for completing a call on its network.
For example, when someone in the United States calls a person in India, the call travels through international telecom networks before reaching the Indian operator serving the recipient. The overseas carrier pays the Indian operator a termination charge for delivering the call.
The charge is different from the retail price a customer pays for an international call. It is a wholesale interconnection payment between telecom operators.
India currently has a variable international termination charge framework, with rates ranging from 35 paise to 65 paise per minute. The maximum rate was established after TRAI’s 2020 review.
The telecom industry now wants the ceiling increased to at least ₹4 per minute, with some operators and industry representations seeking a rate of ₹5 or alignment with international benchmarks.
Why Are Indian Telecom Operators Seeking a ₹5 Rate?
1. Large difference between incoming and outgoing call rates
Operators argue that international calling rates are uneven. Foreign carriers pay Indian networks between 35 paise and 65 paise per minute for incoming calls, while Indian operators pay approximately ₹3–₹3.50 per minute when calls originating in India terminate on foreign networks.
This creates a difference in the wholesale rates received and paid by Indian telecom companies.
2. Rupee depreciation is increasing costs
International termination payments are settled in US dollars with overseas operators. When the Indian rupee weakens against the dollar, the cost of paying foreign carriers increases in rupee terms.
COAI argues that this has reduced the realisation Indian operators receive from incoming international calls and widened the financial imbalance.
3. International call traffic is heavily skewed towards India
Incoming international call volumes are significantly higher than outgoing traffic, according to figures cited in earlier industry submissions.
This means Indian networks handle substantial volumes of incoming international calls, while operators argue that the existing rate does not adequately reflect the cost of providing network infrastructure and completing those calls.
Current International Termination Charges vs Proposed Rates
| Particulars | Current rate | Proposed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming international calls terminating in India | ₹0.35–₹0.65/minute | Up to ₹5/minute |
| Outgoing calls terminating on foreign networks | Approximately ₹3–₹3.50/minute | Not directly covered by this demand |
| Last major Indian ITC revision | 2020 | New revision sought |
| Regulatory status | Existing framework | Under industry demand |
The proposed ₹5 rate would represent a substantial increase from the current maximum of 65 paise. At the maximum requested rate, the charge would be more than seven times the existing ceiling.
However, the industry has not proposed one universally agreed figure. Some submissions seek at least ₹4 per minute, while others seek up to ₹5 or a phased adjustment towards international rates.
Telcos Link Low Charges to Fraudulent International Calls
Telecom operators have also connected the proposed increase with concerns about international spam, phishing and fraudulent calls.
Their argument is that low wholesale termination charges can make it inexpensive for overseas entities and intermediaries to route large volumes of unwanted calls into India. Such traffic may include impersonation attempts, robocalls and calls designed to trick consumers into sharing financial or personal information.
COAI has argued that higher charges could increase the cost of sending large volumes of suspicious international traffic and reduce the economic incentive for such activity.
However, a higher termination charge alone would not identify or block fraudulent callers. Effective fraud prevention also requires caller identification, traffic monitoring, international coordination and enforcement against malicious networks.
TRAI has separately strengthened its framework for tackling unsolicited commercial communications, including technology-driven detection and information sharing between telecom operators.
Will Indian Consumers Pay More for Incoming International Calls?
Telecom operators maintain that the proposed increase would not directly add a charge to incoming international calls received by Indian subscribers.
The termination payment is made by the originating foreign carrier or its intermediary to the Indian network. It is not a per-minute fee charged directly to the person receiving the call in India.
This distinction is important because the proposed change concerns wholesale telecom interconnection rates, not the retail tariff paid by Indian consumers.
Nevertheless, the eventual impact on international calling prices will depend on how overseas operators and intermediaries respond to any regulatory revision. The industry’s claim that there would be no additional consumer burden is not the same as a guarantee that every international calling arrangement would remain unchanged.
TRAI’s Review Could Shape the Next Phase of Telecom Interconnection
TRAI began a broader consultation on the telecom interconnection framework in November 2025. The review covers the regulatory arrangements governing how telecom networks connect and exchange traffic.
International termination charges are part of the wider discussion, but operators want a separate and faster consultation because they believe the issue requires immediate attention.
The regulator last revised India’s international termination charges in 2020, replacing the earlier fixed rate of 30 paise per minute with the current range of 35–65 paise.
The latest demand has also been reiterated in written representations and discussions with the regulator. COAI’s June 2026 letter reportedly called for a time-bound path to bring Indian rates closer to international benchmarks over the following two to three years.
TRAI will have to consider the industry’s arguments alongside the potential consequences for competition, international calling arrangements and consumers before deciding whether to change the framework.
The Bigger Picture
The dispute over international termination charges reflects a larger question about how India should price access to its telecom networks in a globally connected market. Operators want rates that better reflect currency movements, international benchmarks and the cost of handling cross-border traffic. They also see higher charges as one possible way to discourage misuse of international calling routes.
For regulators, the challenge is to balance operator economics with affordable international communication and effective consumer protection. A tariff increase may change the incentives for routing calls, but it should be assessed alongside evidence about fraud, traffic patterns and the potential impact on competition.
Looking Ahead
The next step will be TRAI’s response to the industry’s demand for a separate consultation and its consideration of proposals submitted by private telecom operators and BSNL. Until the regulator issues a decision or revised rules, the existing international termination charge framework remains applicable.
If TRAI approves an increase, the final rate could differ from the ₹5 per-minute figure sought by some operators. The regulator may also consider a phased adjustment, as proposed by COAI, rather than implementing the entire increase at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are international call termination charges?
They are wholesale payments made by an overseas telecom operator to an Indian telecom company for completing an international call on its network.
2. What is the current international call termination charge in India?
The current framework sets a rate ranging from ₹0.35 to ₹0.65 per minute, depending on the applicable arrangement.
3. How much are Indian telecom operators demanding?
Operators are seeking an increase to at least ₹4 per minute, with some asking for a rate of up to ₹5 per minute.
4. Will incoming international calls become more expensive for Indian consumers?
The proposed charge is paid by overseas carriers, not directly by Indian subscribers receiving calls. Operators say there would be no direct additional charge for Indian consumers, although the final market impact will depend on how international carriers respond.
5. Why do telecom companies want higher termination charges?
They cite the difference between incoming and outgoing international call rates, rupee depreciation, revenue concerns and the risk of fraudulent international calling traffic.
6. Has TRAI approved the ₹5 per-minute increase?
No. The ₹5 figure is an industry demand. TRAI has not approved the proposed revision, and the existing framework remains in effect.
7. When were international termination charges last revised in India?
TRAI last reviewed the framework in 2020, moving from a fixed 30-paise rate to the current range of 35–65 paise per minute.
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