Telcos to rejig voice-SMS packs

Telecom operators will have to expand their portfolio of voice-and-SMS-only prepaid plans, including shorter-validity options, after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Tuesday mandated a new framework aimed at giving consumers greater flexibility in choosing non-data recharges.

Under the new rules, operators will have to offer voice-and-SMS-only special tariff vouchers (STV) with validity periods of 30 days and less than 30 days, corresponding to the shorter-validity options available in their existing tariff offerings. They will also have to provide a plan that can be renewed on the same date every month, besides at least one voice-and-SMS-only STV with a longer validity.