TRAI Orders Jio, Airtel, Vi To Make Mandatory Recharge Plans Easier To Find
New Recharge Section Mandatory For Telecom Companies
Finding cheaper or regulator-mandated mobile recharge plans is set to become much easier for Indian consumers.
TRAI has directed telecom operators including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea to prominently display mandatory prepaid recharge plans and Special Tariff Vouchers on their websites, mobile apps and exclusive points of sale.
The regulator stepped in after receiving complaints that consumers were struggling to locate these recharge options.
New ‘TRAI-Mandated Packs’ Tab Coming
Under the new order, telecom companies must create a separate section called “TRAI-Mandated Packs”.
More importantly, this section must appear as the first tab in the prepaid recharge section of telecom websites and mobile applications.
This means customers should no longer have to search through several categories or screens to locate plans mandated under TRAI regulations.
The packs must also be prominently displayed at exclusive physical points of sale operated by telecom companies.
TRAI Found Mandatory Plans Were Difficult To Locate
TRAI examined telecom operators’ websites and mobile applications after receiving consumer complaints.
The regulator found that mandated vouchers were sometimes placed under different categories and were not prominently displayed. In some cases, customers had to navigate through multiple pages before finding the required recharge.
TRAI believes simply offering these plans is not enough if subscribers cannot easily find them.
30-Day Recharge Plans Will Get Better Visibility
Telecom companies are already required to offer certain recharge options designed to provide consumers with greater flexibility.
Every operator must provide at least one Plan Voucher, one Special Tariff Voucher and one Combo Voucher with 30-day validity.
Operators must also offer options that renew on the same date every month. If that date does not exist in a particular month, the recharge will renew on the final day of that month.
These plans should now become much easier to identify.
Voice And SMS-Only Plans Also Covered
The changes are particularly important for customers who mainly need calling and SMS services rather than mobile data.
TRAI has separately expanded requirements for voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers. Operators must provide such options across specified validity periods and offer them at an appropriate reduction compared with plans containing data.
This could benefit senior citizens, feature-phone users, rural subscribers and consumers who maintain secondary SIM cards without requiring large amounts of data.
Jio, Airtel And Vi Get 30 Days
Telecom operators have been directed to comply with the new visibility requirements within 30 days of the October 1 order.
For consumers, the biggest change should be straightforward: open the prepaid recharge section and the regulator-mandated alternatives should be among the first options they see.
Summary
TRAI has ordered Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea and other telecom operators to make mandatory recharge plans easier to find. A new “TRAI-Mandated Packs” section must appear as the first tab in prepaid recharge sections on websites and apps. The move covers mandated vouchers including 30-day options and comes after complaints that consumers struggled to locate these plans.
