MOHAMMAD ZIYAUDDIN
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TRAI has decided to amend the Consumer Protection Regulations, giving the gift of cheap recharges on the occasion of New Year. This decision of the telecom regulator is going to benefit the country's 30 crore 2G feature phone users. Not only this, this rule of TRAI is also going to benefit the users having secondary SIM cards, who recharge only to keep the number active. After the introduction of voice and SMS only plans, telecom companies will have to offer cheap recharge plans.
The rule will come into effect in January!
According to reports, this new rule of TRAI can be implemented in the second week of January. Under this rule, Airtel, Jio, BSNL and Vi can offer cheap voice and SMS only plans to their users. The telecom regulator had held a virtual meeting with all the stakeholders regarding this a few months ago. The rules related to the new guidelines can be implemented in the second week of January.
Cheapest recharge for voice and SMS
The telecom regulator has amended the consumer protection regulations making it mandatory for telcos to introduce special tariff vouchers (STVs) for voice and SMS to provide plans to users for their essential services.
STV validity increased
TRAI has decided to increase the validity of Special Tariff Voucher from the existing 90 days. Now users will get 365 days validity for Special Tariff Voucher.
Amendments to Tariff Order
Apart from this, TRAI has also made the 50th amendment in the Telecom Tariff Order of 2012 and has kept the requirement of at least one top-up voucher of the denomination of Rs 10 intact. Also, the system of reserving its denomination has been abolished. Now telecom companies will have to keep one top-up of Rs 10 and a top-up of any other value.
Colour coding of recharge vouchers is over
In view of the increasing popularity of online recharge, TRAI has also decided to end the colour coding system of recharge vouchers.
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