The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced new rules for recharge vouchers offered by telecommunications operators in India. These changes aim to provide greater flexibility and benefits for consumers, particularly those in specific segments like senior citizens and rural residents.
Key changes include:
- Specialized Vouchers: Telecom operators must now offer standalone vouchers specifically for voice and SMS services, allowing consumers to pay only for the services they need.
- Extended Validity: The validity period for special tariff vouchers and combo vouchers has been extended to 365 days, providing greater flexibility for long-term plans.
- Online Recharge Focus: The requirement for color-coded vouchers has been removed, with a greater emphasis on online recharges.
- Flexible Denominations: Telecom operators now have more freedom in choosing voucher denominations, although they must still offer at least one top-up voucher worth Rs. 10.
These changes follow other recent initiatives by TRAI to improve the telecom consumer experience in India, such as:
- Curbing Promotional Calls: TRAI has directed telecom providers to stop promotional calls from unregistered callers and blacklist spam calls.
- Enhanced Transparency: Service providers are now required to display network coverage maps and signal strength information to help users make informed decisions.
These regulations reflect TRAI’s commitment to protecting consumer interests and promoting a fair and transparent telecom market in India.
