New Delhi: India’s Telecom regulator, TRAI, permitted the increase of validity for mobile data packs to 365 days, from the current validity which is up to 90 days, This is being done to boost usage by marginal consumers and also attract first-time Internet users.
Trai said the present regulatory regime allows “telecom service providers to offer data services in the form of Special Tariff Voucher (STV) either exclusively or in combination with other tariff items with a maximum permitted validity of 90 days“. At present, the company can issue a recharge voucher, which can will be valid for a maximum 90 days. If a consumer fails to use up mobile Internet data purchased through the voucher within the specified period, the unused data will lapse. Trai also added “After undertaking a consultation process, Trai has notified the 10th amendment to the TCPR (Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations) permitting the maximum validity of 365 days for data-only STVs instead of prevailing maximum validity of 90 days.”