Airtel SMS & Voice-only Prepaid Plans! (Data benefit removed)

Instead of launching new plans, Bharti Airtel has modified some of their existing value plans by removing data benefits to turn them into a voice & SMS-only pack - an effort to comply with the recent mandate issued by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India). In this article, we shall be sharing which are the new modified Airtel plans with no data benefit and only SMS & voice calls.

Our dimer @BK100 previously shared how the telecom authority of India has released a new rule to issue separate plans with SMS & Voice Calling benefits only (no data benefits). This move was expected to provide relief to thousands of users who did not need data benefit but still had to pay for it. However, it seems like the telcos have turned the tables upside down.

Bharti Airtel has now modified two of its prepaid plans to comply with the mandate but has it made the Airtel SMS & Voice-only plans cheaper or expensive? Let’s find out.

Airtel Rs.509 plan which used to offer 6GB data, unlimited voice calling and SMS limit of 900 is now changed to Rs.569 plan. The 509 Airtel plan now does not offer data benefit. But its previous benefits of unlimited voice calling and SMS limit of 900 are unchanged including Apollo 24/7 Circle membership of 3 months and Airtel Free Hello Tunes. To get the data benefit, customers now need to pay Rs.569 instead of Rs.509.

Another revised Airtel plan is the Rs.2249 (with data benefit) and the Rs.1999 plan with no data benefit. In the new Airtel Rs.1999 plan, customers get the same unlimited voice calling as before with an SMS limit of 3,600. However, the data benefit is now gone. Previously this plan used to offer 24GB data. Now to get the same, you'll need to recharge with the Rs.2249 plan.

Courtesy and thanks to our dimer @rohit for first sharing this news with us here

Airtel removes internet data from value packs

Looking at the revised Airtel plans pricing, it doesn’t quite seem like the users are going to save much on SMS and voice-only plans. Reliance Jio on the other hand is yet to make any changes.

At the moment, Jio Value Plans stand at Rs.1899 (336 days validity & 24GB data), Rs.479 (84 days validity, 6GB data) and Rs.189 (28 days validity, 2GB data). Just like Airtel, Jio might soon revise these plans so keep a close eye on them.

Do share with us in the comments below what you think of this move?

Also read: How long can Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL SIMs stay active without recharge?

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