TRAI withdraws unlimited SMS packs, Limits to 100 Per Day

As per recent update from TRAI, they have relaxed the limit of 100 SMS per day and now you can send 200 SMS per day.

If you are one of those mobile users who prefer communicating via text messages rather than voice calling, then this may come as a real bad news for you. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has made it mandatory for all telecom service providers in India to withdraw all special SMS packs which allows users to send unlimited SMSs. In fact, they have restricted the number of SMS messages that can be sent in a day to the maximum of 100 SMSs only and 3000 SMS messages per month. TRAI has asked all the telecom and mobile companies in India to withdraw all the SMS packs which allows users to send more than 100 200 SMS per day. They need to comply with this before September 27, 2011. Hence, from 27 September, 2011, all such packs (if you are already subscribed) of more than 100 200 SMS per day will not be renewed. TRAI said;

“every Access Provider (Telecom/Mobile Operators) shall withdraw before the 26th September, 2011 all telecom resources allocated to a telemarketer except those telecom resources which have been allocated in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.”

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How 100 SMS per Day Limit by TRAI will Impact Mobile Users and Telecom Companies

Earlier we informed you about implementation of TRAI’s new guidelines for the telemarketers which will help mobile subscribers in India to block fully or partially all the unwanted calls and SMS (mostly, commercial promotional calls and messages). This move has been welcomed by the Indian mobile users who have long been waiting for this to happen soon. However, it is yet to seen how an average mobile customer in India will react to this new guidelines for the SMS packs. Communicating via SMS is one of the most common way for Indian users. People generally subscribe to the unlimited SMS packs not only for day to day general communication but also for sending greetings, wishes, forwarding jokes, quotes and what not. Communication is an integral part of our life but in my opinion we (in India specially) go overboard with this bad habit of over communicating via SMS etc. I am sure, this will make all those people a happy lot who have been feeling fed up with receiving all sorts of SMS messages every second.

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I think, telecom companies in India may also not like this new move as it may impact their revenue directly. SMS messages contribute to a larger part of revenue for an Indian telecom company. SMS are being used to a very large extent for the contest and games playing which again only helps telecom companies increase their revenue. I wish, if TRAI could think about making some guidelines in this aspect as well. SMS contest are a very common way which most of the companies uses for the giveaways etc. In majority of the cases, this companies don’t even have to spend a penny themselves for giving away the contest winner prizes and gifts. They are able to recover it from the SMS cost sharing with the telecom companies. Generally, such contest SMSs are charged at a premium rates which only further helps companies to make more money.

Are you annoyed with getting unwanted promotional calls and SMS messages on your mobile phone in India? Just call or SMS to 1909 toll free.

 

Update:27/9/2011

TRAI Impose a Termination Charge of 5 Paisa per SMS

In another move announced by TRAI just couple of hours back, TRAI will impose a termination charge of 5 Paisa per SMS on telecom operators from whose network commercial SMS are sent. This is likely to come in effect from October 15, 2011. TRAI Chairman, Mr J. S. Sarma said;

“We are actively considering and are likely to issue a regulation by October 15 to impose five paise termination charge on commercial SMS, and not on general SMS,”

Some of the operators do have a termination charge in place even currently. However, that is more in line with mutual agreements. But this new regulation by TRAI will make the termination charge a mandatory feature. Please note, that this termination charge of five paisa per SMS will be applicable only to commercial messages and not to the personal SMS.

 

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