In response to a new directive from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Bharti Airtel has launched prepaid plans designed for users who need only voice and SMS services. This marks a shift away from bundled data offerings, catering specifically to feature phone users and those with secondary SIM cards.
TRAI mandate
Last month, TRAI issued a mandate requiring telecom operators to provide standalone Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) for voice and SMS services without including mobile data. This move aims to address the needs of customers who don’t rely on internet connectivity, such as users of basic phones or backup SIMs.
Airtel’s new plans
Airtel has rolled out two revamped prepaid recharge options:
Rs. 509 Plan: Offers unlimited voice calls, 900 SMS, and a validity of 84 days. The earlier version of this plan included 6GB of data, which has now been removed.
Rs. 1,999 Plan: Provides unlimited voice calls, 3,600 SMS, and a validity of 365 days.
Charges after SMS limit
Once the free SMS limit is used up, customers will be charged Rs. 1 for local SMS and Rs. 1.5 for STD SMS.
Additional features and pricing
Reports suggest these plans may include added benefits like free Hello Tunes and an Apollo 24/7 Circle membership, but these have not been officially confirmed. Additionally, it is unclear whether Airtel will adjust the pricing of these plans after removing bundled data.
Plan availability
As of now, these plans are not listed on Airtel’s website or the Airtel Thanks app. Their availability details are expected soon.
Background on the TRAI regulation
The revised plans come after the twelfth amendment to the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations. TRAI announced this amendment following discussions held in October 2023, which highlighted the need for clearer, more consumer-friendly vouchers with transparent validity and features.
This move by TRAI and Airtel signals a renewed focus on catering to specific customer segments, such as feature phone users, while addressing the gap in non-data plans in the market.
