‘Good news for prepaid mobile users’: Raghav Chadha welcomes new 30-day recharge rules
“There are 12 months in a year, but prepaid users have to recharge 13 times. Why is there a monthly recharge of 28 days? 30-days validity plans should be introduced” Chadha said, adding that he had called for 30-day validity plans.
Because many monthly plans were valid for 28 days, in a video message on X, Chadha said prepaid users effectively had to recharge 13 times a year.
Chadha said the change would particularly benefit consumers who do not require mobile data, including senior citizens and low-budget users who primarily use their phones for calls. “Many consumers who do not want data but want voice-only plans, prepaid voice-only plans for incoming and outgoing facilities will be made available,” he said. Chadha said the development showed how issues raised by elected representatives and supported by the public could translate into regulatory action. “I think this is a perfect example of constructive politics,” he said, adding that he hoped similar efforts would continue to address what he described as the “real problems” faced by people.
He had also sought voice-only plans for consumers who do not use mobile data.
Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said the move addresses an issue he had raised in Parliament over 28-day recharge cycles and the lack of voice-only options for users who do not need mobile data. Earlier reporting noted: Hailing the new plans, which offer a validity of 30 days, the noted Parliamentarian said that the changes would offer more flexibility to consumers, including those who primarily use their phones for voice calls and SMS. Earlier reporting noted: He highlighted the government’s new Telecom (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations and said that the introduction of 30-day plans would reduce the need for consumers to make 13 monthly recharges in a year to 12.
TRAI said the changes were intended to give low-income consumers more affordable shorter-duration choices and greater flexibility to recharge according to their requirements and financial capacity. Earlier reporting noted: Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said that the changes would offer more flexibility to consumers, including those who primarily use their phones for voice calls and SMS.