Pay for two extra days: TRAI moves to end telecom companies’ practice

NEW DELHI: The extra charges effectively imposed by mobile service providers through 28-day plans may soon come to an end. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is tightening action following complaints that telecom companies, except the public sector BSNL, offer only 28 days of validity for a one-month plan. There has been criticism, including in Parliament, questioning how a month, which usually has 30 days, is reduced to 28 days by telecom operators.

Under the current system, users lose two days every month, and in months with 31 days, the loss increases to three days. As a result, instead of recharging 12 times a year, users are effectively forced to recharge 13 times annually. With growing public protest against this practice, the central government has also intervened. According to national media reports, TRAI has sought an explanation from mobile service providers.

Although some companies do offer 30-day plans, these are not widely promoted. TRAI had earlier directed operators to provide plans of all durations for the convenience of users. There are also demands to allow incoming calls for up to one year even after the recharge validity expires. Considering public interest, key decisions on the issue are expected to be announced soon.