• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Prepaid Voice and SMS Plans: Many players from the Indian telecom sector introduced their pre-paid voice and SMS-only plans in the beginning month of this new year, and that came in with their revised pricing strategy. This change in pricing comes against the backdrop of consumer demand for affordable options and regulatory scrutiny by TRAI, the telecom regulator of India.

Why Only Voice and SMS Plans

Conventionally data services are bundled up with the voice and SMS packs, this forces the customers who generally only use voice and SMS-only to shed extra bucks for data that might never be of use to them. With growing complaints from particularly the elderly population and the rural areas, the telecom regulator has issued guidelines that mandate standalone voice and SMS recharge options. Keeping in line with this mandate Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone-Idea( Vi) have launched such plans with revised pricing to cater to this specific segment's needs. 

TRAI has taken note of recent launches and revisions, stating, "It has come to notice of TRAI that recently few service providers have launched voice and SMS-only packs which will be reported to TRAI within seven working days from the date of launch. The recently launched vouchers will be examined by TRAI as per extant regulatory provisions."

Voice and SMS-only Plans by Jio

Rs 1,784 Plan

Jio has modified its previous Rs 1,958 plan to Rs 1,748, and this plan offers the following benefits: 

1) 336 Days validity ( 29 days less than the earlier plan) 

2) Unlimited voice calls and 3,600 SMS

3) Access to Jio Apps such as JioTV, JioCinema ( non-premium) and JioCloud

The effective price of this plan ends up being Rs 5.20 per day. Jio Has taken this step to provide a long-term and cost-effective solution, although it reduces the days for which the plan will be active, and this is something that critics have pointed out as it reduces the impact of the price cut offered.

Rs 488 Recharge Plan

Another revision that Jio has done is the reduction of the Rs 458 plan to Rs 448, which offers: 

1) 84 days validity

2) Unlimited voice calls and 1,000 SMS

3) Additional perks- JioTV, JioCinema(non-premium), JioCloud

The effective price of this plan comes down to Rs 5 per day. This is a more appealing plan for those who want to get a recharge for short term. The plan now comes at a reduced price, though only Rs 10, but other things on the offer including the validity remain the same, adding to its appeal. 

Airtel's Voice and SMS-Only Recharge Plan

Airtel has introduced a revised version of its Rs 1,849 recharge plan, which was earlier priced at Rs 1,959. The updated plan offers the following benefits:

1) Validity: 365 days

2) Included Benefits: Unlimited voice calls and 3,600 SMS messages

3) Additional Perks: Airtel Rewards, including Apollo 24/7 Circle membership and free Hello Tune service

Effective Cost: Just Rs 5.06 per day

Notably, unlike Jio, Airtel has kept the validity period unchanged, making this plan a more attractive option for customers looking for a year-long recharge.

Airtel's Rs 469 Recharge Plan

Airtel has revised its Rs 499 plan to a new price of Rs 469. The updated plan offers:

1) Validity: 84 days

2) Included Benefits: Unlimited voice calls and 900 SMS messages

3) Additional Perks: Apollo 24/7 Circle membership and free Hello Tune service

Effective Cost: Only Rs 5.58 per day

This updated plan offers a lower cost without sacrificing any features, making it a great option for users seeking value.

Vi's Voice and SMS-Only Plan

Vi offers a straightforward voice and SMS-only plan priced at Rs 1,460. The plan includes:

1) Validity: 270 days

2) Benefits: Unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS

3) Additional Charges: Rs 1 per local SMS and Rs 1.5 per STD SMS beyond the limit

While Vi provides a budget-friendly option, its plan has a shorter validity when compared to those from Jio and Airtel.

Although plans from Jio seem to be more cost-effective, Airtel's offer brings added benefits like Apollo 24/7 and Hello Tunes. Now which one would you go for completely depends on your or any user's preference, obviously taking into account additional benefits, and customer loyalty. 

We might see further changes in pricing and offerings by telecom service providers, as TRAI continues to scrutinize the service providers, to ensure easy and affordable access to prepaid plans that focus on Voice and SMS-Only. 

ALSO READ: Acer Aspire 3 (2025) Launched In India: You Can Get Your Hands On It For Less Than 15 Thousand