Voice Only Plans in India Price Cuts and TRAI’s Latest Guidelines Explained

• TRAI directs telcos to reduce the cost of voice-only plans for affordability.
• Airtel lowers tariffs on select plans but price cuts remain marginal.
• Jio and Vi are yet to announce changes; updates expected soon.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has urged telecom operators to reduce the costs of voice-only plans. This move aims to make these plans more accessible, particularly for 2G users and those maintaining secondary SIM cards. While Airtel has made adjustments by lowering the prices of its voice and SMS-only plans, the reductions are relatively minor and may not fully address affordability concerns.

For example, Airtel replaced its ₹499 and ₹1959 plans with ₹469 and ₹1849 tariffs, respectively, maintaining the same benefits. Although there is a visible reduction, it raises questions about whether this change aligns with TRAI’s goal of making these plans cost-effective. Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea (Vi), on the other hand, have not yet implemented updates to their offerings but are expected to announce changes soon.

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Voice Only Plans

TRAI’s push for reduced tariffs is a response to the high costs of basic plans that provideprimarily to voice and SMS needs. These plans are crucial for users who rely on basic phone services without extensive data usage. However, telcos have shown resistance to this initiative, as such plans could potentially lower their average revenue per user (ARPU).

Changes Implemented by Airtel

• Airtel reduced its ₹509 plan for 84 days to ₹469, offering minor relief.
• The ₹1959 long-term plan was replaced with a slightly cheaper ₹1849 option.
• Benefits such as voice and SMS remain unchanged, ensuring continuity for users.

Telcos’ Perspective

Telecom companies argue that reducing the prices of voice-only plans impacts their revenue generation. Most operators now focus on bundling data, voice, and SMS to encourage higher ARPU. Nonetheless, TRAI mandates that all new vouchers, including voice-only plans, must be submitted within seven days of their introduction, ensuring transparency.

How This Impacts Users

The updates are particularly beneficial for users keeping secondary SIM cards active and those on 2G networks. However, the question remains whether these reductions are significant enough to make a difference. For now, the changes are subtle and may not drastically shift user preferences.

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The initiative to lower the costs of voice-only plans is a step in the right direction for affordability. However, the minimal price cuts by Airtel raise concerns about whether TRAI’s vision for affordable communication is being achieved. With Jio and Vi yet to announce changes, it will be interesting to see how the landscape evolves.