365 days validity in Rs 10 recharge; TRAI is bringing new rules soon

Last updated:15 January 2025, 9:16 PM IST

TRAI issued new rules for telecom users in December 2024. In which telecom companies were asked to bring affordable recharge plans for 2G users. Let us tell you that about 15 crore mobile users in the country are using 2G.read more

New Delhi. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India i.e. TRAI has issued new guidelines, which are going to benefit 150 million Indian smartphone users. These are the users who are using 2G services. Users who depend on basic mobile services like voice calls and SMS often face problems due to expensive recharge plans. They get unnecessary data in recharge, which they are unable to use.

In view of this, TRAI issued a new updated guidelines on December 24, in which telecom companies will launch affordable plans following the new rules.

Also read: Two cheap prepaid plans of BSNL created a stir, one is providing 3GB data daily for 84 days.

Recharge plan will start from Rs 10
According to the new rules, all telecom companies like Airtel, Jio, BSNL and Vodafone Idea (Vi) will have to offer top-up vouchers which will be available at a starting price of Rs 10. Apart from this, in a major update, TRAI has increased the validity of Special Tariff Voucher (STV) from 90 days to 365 days. This change ensures that users can now access long-term, cost-effective recharge options.

Telecom operators have been directed to create voice and SMS-only plans specifically designed for 2G feature phone users who do not require internet services.

Currently, these users have to pay more for data plans. This is their compulsion, because telecom operators do not have any specific plan only for voice and SMM. Even though they do not need the data, they still have to take it, which they cannot even use.

It is being told that TRAI guidelines have already been implemented and telecom companies have been given a few weeks’ time to implement them. Although the official launch date has not been announced, the affordable recharge plan is expected to hit the market by the end of January.