Airtel has rolled out three new prepaid recharge plans designed exclusively for calling and messaging, omitting bundled mobile data. The move makes Airtel the first telecom service provider in India to introduce dedicated voice-and-SMS tariffs in response to recent guidelines issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Plan Details and Pricing Structure
The three newly introduced plans are listed on Airtel’s website and mobile application. Each plan provides unlimited local, STD, and roaming calls alongside a total quota of 300 SMS and complimentary access to HelloTunes.
- ₹185 Plan: Includes unlimited voice calling and 300 SMS with a validity period of 28 days.
- ₹203 Plan: Delivers identical calling and messaging allowances with a fixed validity of 30 days.
- ₹206 Plan: Offers the same core benefits but features a calendar-month validity, allowing the recharge to renew on the corresponding date of the following month.
None of the three options include mobile internet access, distinguishing them from standard prepaid bundles that incorporate daily or lump-sum data allowances.
Regulatory Context and Market Impact
The introduction of these plans precedes TRAI’s October 21 compliance deadline, established under the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations. The regulator instructed operators to provide dedicated voice and SMS special tariff vouchers corresponding to their existing bundled offerings, priced with appropriate reductions for consumers who do not require data.
The standalone voice tariffs cater primarily to feature phone users, secondary SIM holders, and subscribers who rely predominantly on Wi-Fi networks for internet access. Under previous tariff structures, these users routinely paid for bundled 4G and 5G data packages despite utilizing only calling and messaging services. Other major carriers, including Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL, are also expected to comply with the mandate by listing equivalent options.