TRAI Scraps Free 100 SMS Per Day Rule

TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has removed a particular clause that directed the telecom operators to offer only 100 text messages per day on a single connection and charge minimum 50 paise per SMS for messages exceeding 50 number. "The deletion of Schedule XIII thus implies another step of TRAI in doing away of the tariff regulation and strengthening the regime of tariff forbearance," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India said in a statement while issuing the draft Telecommunications Tariff (65th Amendment) Order.

Now telecom operators will have liberty in setting charges for people sharing bulk SMSes by non-commercial users and the telecom regulator's practice of leniency will extend to such messages as well. Earlier, telecom operators like Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and Bharti Airtel used to offer users a benefit of 100 SMS per day. If the users exceed this daily limit, the telecom companies charged its customers 50 paise for each SMS.

In November 2012 in its tariff order, it had notified a minimum rate of 50 paise to control the menace of pesky text messages. Later in 2018, the telecom regulator prescribed a new, more robust technology-driven framework for tackling annoying calls.

TRAI further added, "Considering the comprehensiveness of TCCCPR 2018 in dealing with the menace of UCC, it was felt that the tariff regulation, which has the potential of adversely affecting the interests of genuine non-commercial bulk users of SMS, is no longer required and therefore can be removed."

Recently the telecom regulator has also clarified that India will continue with the 10-digit numbering style for mobile telephone services after releasing its recommendations on "Ensuring Adequate Numbering Resources for Fixed Line and Mobile Services".