Bharti Airtel, one of India’s leading telecom operators, is set to launch specialised prepaid recharge plans focused exclusively on voice and SMS services. This move aligns with the recent mandate by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which requires telecom operators to offer standalone Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) catering to users who do not need internet services. These plans are expected to benefit feature phone users, senior citizens, and those using secondary SIM cards in dual-SIM smartphones.
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of Airtel’s new strategy and what it means for consumers.
Last month, TRAI introduced the 12th Amendment to the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations, mandating that telecom operators offer distinct STVs for voice and SMS-only services. The decision aims to address the needs of users who prefer basic telecom services without bundled internet data, such as:
- Feature phone users: Millions of users in India still rely on feature phones for basic communication.
- Secondary SIM card users: Many people use secondary SIMs in their smartphones for voice calls or SMS, often without any internet usage.
By introducing these plans, Airtel is targeting a niche yet significant segment of the Indian telecom market that prioritises affordability and simplicity over data-driven plans.
Expected Airtel Prepaid Recharge Plans
Although Airtel has not officially unveiled the plans, reports suggest the company is restructuring two existing prepaid vouchers to comply with TRAI’s guidelines:
1. Rs. 509 Plan
- Current Offering: Unlimited voice calls, 900 free SMS, and 6GB of bundled data with 84 days of validity.
- Proposed Update: The revised plan is likely to remove the 6GB of data while retaining unlimited calls and 900 SMS, catering to voice and SMS-only users.
2. Rs. 1,999 Plan
- Current Offering: Unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS per day, and bundled data for a validity of 365 days.
- Proposed Update: The updated plan is expected to offer:
- Unlimited voice calls
- 3,600 SMS for the entire validity period
- Validity: 365 days
Post-SMS Limits
For both plans, once the free SMS limit is exhausted, Airtel may charge:
- Re. 1 per local message
- Rs. 1.5 per STD message
Potential Additional Benefits
While Airtel has yet to officially announce the plans, reports indicate they may come bundled with additional perks, including:
- Apollo 24/7 Circle Membership: Providing health-related benefits to subscribers.
- Free Hello Tunes: Personalised caller tunes at no extra cost.
Availability and Pricing:
At the time of writing, these new prepaid recharge plans were not listed on Airtel’s website or the Airtel Thanks app. The pricing strategy remains unclear, especially whether the new plans will retain their current costs after the removal of bundled data.
Expected Rollout Timeline:
The plans are expected to launch soon, making Airtel the first telecom operator in India to offer voice and SMS-only recharge options under TRAI’s revised regulations.
TRAI’s Mandate and Industry Response:
The introduction of voice and SMS-specific plans stems from TRAI’s continuous efforts to ensure consumer-centric telecom services. The mandate followed an open-house discussion in October 2024, where TRAI addressed concerns such as:
- Tariff transparency
- Voucher validity
- Colour-coded voucher categorisation
This regulatory step aims to provide greater clarity and tailored options for consumers.