Airtel updates prepaid plans to comply with TRAI directive on special tariff vouchers

Bharti Airtel, one of India’s leading telecom providers, has revised its prepaid offerings in line with a recent directive from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The directive mandates that telecom operators introduce Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) that include voice and SMS services.

Rs 509 Prepaid Plan

The updated Rs 509 prepaid plan, valid for 84 days, is tailored for users who prioritise unlimited voice calls and 900 free SMS without needing mobile data. Additional benefits include free access to the Airtel Xstream app, Apollo 24/7 Circle membership, and free Hello Tunes. Unlike its earlier version, which included 6GB of mobile data, the revised plan now excludes this feature.

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For users who occasionally require mobile data, the Rs 569 prepaid plan offers an alternative. It includes unlimited voice calls, 900 SMS, and 6GB of mobile data, with the same 84-day validity.

Rs 1,999 Annual Prepaid Plan

The Rs 1,999 annual prepaid plan has also been revised. It now offers unlimited voice calls and 3,000 free SMS but no longer includes the 24GB of mobile data previously available. Like the Rs 509 plan, this package includes free access to the Airtel Xstream app, Apollo 24/7 Circle membership, and Hello Tunes.

Additional Details

Both plans feature Airtel’s Spam Fighting Network solution. After exhausting the free SMS quota, users will incur charges of ₹1 and ₹1.5 per SMS for local and STD messages, respectively.

While these changes align with TRAI’s requirement to provide tailored service options, Airtel’s new STVs appear to offer fewer data benefits compared to earlier plans, potentially leaving data-centric users with limited choices.

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