TRAI Directs Telcos To Provide Pre-Paid Recharge Plans With 30-Day Validity

The Telecom Regulatory Autority of India (TRAI) has directed the telcos to provide recharge plans with a validity of 30 days for pre-paid customers.

At present, telecom operators provide recharge plans with a validity of 28 days in the pre-paid segment which leads to 13 recharges during the year for customers who look to recharge on a monthly basis.

The move is expected to reduce the number of recharges done by a customer during a year.

"Every Telecom Service Provider shall offer at least one Plan Voucher, one Special Tariff Voucher and one Combo Voucher having a validity of thirty days," the telecom regulator said in a notification.

The TRAI notification further mandates Telcos to offer one Plan Voucher, one Special Tariff Voucher and one Combo Voucher which shall be renewable on the same date of every month.

Further, the telcos have been directed to comply with the order within 60 days from the day of notification of the rules.

The move comes as TRAI has been receiving complaints from consumers expressing concerns regarding the tariff offers of 28 days' validity (or in multiples thereof) by TSPs, rather than tariff offerings having validity for 30 days or a month.

"With the enactment of the amendment, telecom consumers will have more options to choose service offerings of appropriate validity and duration. This would also facilitate consumers in making a more informed tariff-related choice," the TRAI said.

(With inputs from PTI)