TRAI orders Jio, Airtel and Vodafone-Idea to highlight prepaid packs and tariff vouchers

Following consumer feedback about the poor visibility of prepaid options, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released a notification mandating Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone-Idea to redesign their digital interfaces. Each provider must add a distinct “TRAI-Mandated Packs” tab that appears first in the prepaid recharge section of websites, mobile apps and exclusive sales outlets. The regulation also obliges operators to supply at least one prepaid plan voucher, one special tariff voucher (STV) and one combo voucher, all with a validity of thirty days or less.

STVs are intended to offer cheaper voice and SMS rates, separate from data services, and must be renewable each month. The authority noted that current placements required users to navigate multiple screens, causing difficulty in finding suitable vouchers. Operators have been given 30 days from the October 1 issuance date to comply with these requirements.