TRAI’s new recharge guidelines may give Jio, Airtel and Vi users more (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: Mobile users in India may soon get more flexibility while choosing prepaid recharge plans as the telecom regulator has introduced new guidelines for telecom companies. The new rules focus on providing more options for customers who only need calling and SMS services without paying for additional data benefits.
The changes will impact users of major telecom operators, including Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi), as companies will now have to offer more voice and SMS-focused recharge options.
Many prepaid plans currently come with a combination of unlimited calling, SMS and internet data. However, a large number of users, especially those who mainly use their phones for calls, do not require regular data benefits.
Under the revised rules, telecom operators will need to provide dedicated voice and SMS-only plans, giving customers more choices according to their usage.
The new framework is expected to help users who do not want bundled internet services with their mobile plans. Customers will have the option to choose recharge packs based on their actual requirements instead of selecting plans that include unused benefits.
The move could be especially useful for feature phone users, senior citizens and customers who rely mainly on voice communication.
The new guidelines do not mean that current prepaid plans will be removed immediately. Telecom companies can continue offering existing plans while adding more voice and SMS-only options as per the new rules.
The final pricing and availability of these plans will depend on individual telecom operators.
The latest move is part of TRAI’s efforts to improve transparency and give consumers greater control over telecom services.
With changing mobile usage patterns, the regulator aims to ensure that users can select plans that match their needs without paying for services they do not use.
