Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Monday pulled up cellular operators for activating auto roaming for pre-paid subscribers without their consent and directed them to discontinue such practice within five days.

"Pre-activated auto roaming facility may create a situation where even those subscribers who do not want to avail the service will end up paying activation fee for roaming," Trai said in a statement.

This led to a situation where subscribers had no option but to pay roaming charges whenever they left the home network service area, Trai said, adding that supplementary services had financial implications for subscribers and hence, their consent was essential.

Trai has asked all cellular operators to discontinue charging for auto roaming facility without subscribers' consent with immediate effect and provide the service only to those pre-paid customers who opt to avail it.