Airtel Jio Vi Voice SMS Only Plans are now available. Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea (Vi) have made shorter-validity voice and SMS-only prepaid plans available under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) mandate. The new options give low-income consumers more choice to recharge for calls and text messages without paying for a bundled data allowance.
India’s private telecom operators view the market as data-first, with voice services treated as a complement. Airtel made its mandated plans available first, followed by Vi and Jio. Jio has also activated a dedicated “TRAI-Mandated Packs” section on its website, as required under a separate direction covering operators’ websites and apps. The Airtel Jio Vi Voice SMS Only Plans are the first visible outcome of that mandate.
- Airtel, Jio and Vi now offer shorter-validity voice and SMS-only prepaid options under TRAI rules.
- Jio’s plans start at Rs 147, while Airtel and Vi’s new packs begin at Rs 185.
- The plans include unlimited calling and 300 SMS, with data excluded or charged separately.
Airtel Voice and SMS-Only Prepaid Plans
Airtel’s three Voice-Centric Prepaid plans all include unlimited local, STD and roaming calls, 300 SMS, and Free Hellotunes. Subscribers can set any one tune free once every 30 days. Data usage is charged at 50 paise per MB. After the 300 SMS allowance, local SMS costs Re 1 and STD SMS costs Rs 1.5.
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| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Price | Rs 185; Rs 203; Rs 206 |
| Validity | Rs 185: 28 days; Rs 203: 30 days; Rs 206: 1 month |
| Calls | Unlimited local, STD and roaming calls on all three plans |
| SMS | 300 SMS included on each plan; after quota: Re 1 local / Rs 1.5 STD per SMS |
| Data | No bundled data; usage charged at 50p/MB |
| Effective Per-Day Cost | Rs 185: approx Rs 6.61/day; Rs 203: approx Rs 6.77/day; Rs 206: approx Rs 6.87/day (30-day average) |
Jio Voice and SMS-Only Prepaid Plans
Jio’s four voice and SMS-only prepaid packs include unlimited voice calls and 300 SMS in total. None of these plans includes mobile data.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Price | Rs 147; Rs 177; Rs 196; Rs 197 |
| Validity | Rs 147: 22 days; Rs 177: 28 days; Rs 196: 30 days; Rs 197: calendar month (renews on the same date each month) |
| Calls | Unlimited voice calls on all four plans |
| SMS | 300 SMS total on each plan |
| Data | No data included |
| Effective Per-Day Cost | Rs 147: Rs 6.68/day; Rs 177: Rs 6.32/day; Rs 196: Rs 6.53/day; Rs 197: approx Rs 6.35 to Rs 6.57/day |
Vi Voice and SMS-Only Prepaid Plans
Vi’s three new shorter-validity plans include unlimited calls and 300 SMS total, with no bundled data. Data is charged at 50 paise per MB, while SMS beyond the included quota costs Rs 1 for local and Rs 1.5 for STD messages.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Price | Rs 185; Rs 203; Rs 206 |
| Validity | Rs 185: 28 days; Rs 203: 30 days; Rs 206: 1 calendar month (renews on the same date each month) |
| Calls | Unlimited calls on all three plans |
| SMS | 300 SMS total on each plan; after quota: Rs 1 local / Rs 1.5 STD per SMS |
| Data | No bundled data; usage charged at 50p/MB. Under Today’s Offer, select users in select circles get 1GB extra data with the Rs 185 plan. |
| Effective Per-Day Cost | Rs 185: Rs 6.61/day; Rs 203: Rs 6.77/day; Rs 206: approx Rs 6.65 to Rs 6.87/day |
Vi’s existing Rs 179 pack now has 25 days of validity with voice and SMS only, without data. In select circles, this pack offers 1.5GB data with 28 days of validity.
Airtel Jio Vi Voice SMS Only Plans Comparison
The comparison below arranges the new Airtel Jio Vi Voice SMS Only Plans by recharge price, from lowest to highest. Effective daily costs use the stated validity; calendar-month figures are approximate ranges where the number of days changes.
| Operator | Price | Validity | Effective Per-Day Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jio | Rs 147 | 22 days | Rs 6.68/day |
| Jio | Rs 177 | 28 days | Rs 6.32/day |
| Airtel | Rs 185 | 28 days | Approx Rs 6.61/day |
| Vi | Rs 185 | 28 days | Rs 6.61/day |
| Jio | Rs 196 | 30 days | Rs 6.53/day |
| Jio | Rs 197 | Calendar month | Approx Rs 6.35 to Rs 6.57/day |
| Airtel | Rs 203 | 30 days | Approx Rs 6.77/day |
| Vi | Rs 203 | 30 days | Rs 6.77/day |
| Airtel | Rs 206 | 1 month | Approx Rs 6.87/day (30-day average) |
| Vi | Rs 206 | 1 calendar month | Approx Rs 6.65 to Rs 6.87/day |
TRAI’s overview of voice and SMS-only packs explains that these prepaid options provide calling and messaging without data for consumers who do not need mobile internet. For operator-specific details, see our guides to Jio voice and SMS plans, Vi voice-only plans and the cheapest voice-only plans in India.
Conclusion
The new Airtel Jio Vi Voice SMS Only Plans mean Airtel, Jio and Vi have expanded their prepaid choices with shorter-validity voice and SMS-only packs following TRAI’s mandate. Jio’s entry plan starts at Rs 147, while Airtel and Vi’s listed options begin at Rs 185. The packs offer a way to recharge for calling and SMS separately from bundled mobile data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has TRAI mandated voice and SMS-only prepaid plans?
TRAI’s mandate aims to give consumers, including low-income users who may not need mobile internet, more choice to recharge for voice calls and SMS without a bundled data allowance.
Which operator made its shorter-validity voice and SMS plans available first?
Bharti Airtel was the first to make its TRAI-mandated shorter-validity plans available, followed by Vi and Reliance Jio.
What is the lowest-priced plan among Airtel, Jio and Vi?
Jio’s Rs 147 voice and SMS-only prepaid plan is the lowest-priced pack in this comparison and has 22 days of validity.
Do the new voice and SMS-only plans include mobile data?
Jio’s packs do not include data. Airtel and Vi also exclude bundled data, with usage charged at 50 paise per MB. Vi’s Rs 185 pack may offer 1GB extra data to select users in select circles under Today’s Offer.
What is the validity of Jio’s Rs 197 voice and SMS pack?
Jio’s Rs 197 pack has calendar-month validity and renews on the same date each month, rather than following a fixed 30-day period.
