Nitin Ahirwal | Engineer, Developer & Tech Enthusiast

Indian Telecom Overview

India has over 1.1 billion telecom subscribers, making it one of the largest mobile user bases in the world. The market is dominated by three major private operators — Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) — collectively controlling more than 95% of the market share.

While India boasts one of the lowest data prices globally, consumers continue to face daily frustrations such as:

Short validity packs that expire every 28 days instead of monthly,
Forced bundled plans that include unwanted data or SMS, and
Instant disconnection of calls and OTPs once a plan expires.

The state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) stands apart as a comparatively consumer-friendly operator. It offers longer validity, more lenient grace periods, and still supports low-usage customers — a segment often ignored by private players.

Recently, widespread social media chatter about a 10–12% telecom tariff hike effective December 2025 triggered public outrage, prompting calls for transparency and regulation.

Why Telecom Companies Work This Way

The turning point came in 2016, when Jio entered the market with free calls and dirt-cheap data, forcing incumbents to follow suit. This “data-first revolution” ended the era of simple top-ups and lifetime validity.

Key Reasons for Current Practices

Revenue Lock-in and ARPU Focus 💰
Companies push bundled voice + data + SMS packs to secure steady monthly revenue. Even if you use only calls or Wi-Fi, you still pay for unused data — effectively boosting Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).
The 28-Day Validity Trick 📆
Most plans last 28 days, not a full calendar month. Over 12 months, you end up recharging 13 times a year (365 ÷ 28 ≈ 13.04). This subtle change extracts an extra month’s worth of payment every year without appearing as a “price hike.”
Dual-SIM Dependency 📡
Because no single operator covers the entire country uniformly, millions of Indians use two SIMs — one for coverage, one for offers. But both need periodic recharges, doubling costs for users just to stay reachable.
Regulatory Loopholes ⚖️
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) permits market-based pricing. Operators exploit this flexibility by shortening validity, creating artificial demand cycles, and phasing out small-value top-ups that once provided “lifetime incoming.”

The result? Consumers unknowingly pay more for less, and the absence of stricter validity regulations helps telcos sustain higher revenues.

Recharge Plans: Then vs Now

The Golden Past

Before 2017, a simple ₹10 top-up could keep your number active indefinitely for incoming calls. Many low-income and rural users relied on such small-value recharges to maintain connectivity.

The Present Reality

Now, every SIM must be linked to an active plan to make or receive calls. The cheapest packs start from around ₹91–₹107 and last less than 35 days.

📊 Cheapest Active SIM Plans (as of November 2025)

🟦 Jio
Plan Price: ₹91
Validity: 28 days
Benefits: Unlimited calls, 100 SMS, no data
Notes: Basic validity extender; higher options like ₹1,748 for 336 days (voice-only).

🔴 Airtel
Plan Price: ₹99
Validity: 28 days
Benefits: Unlimited calls, 200MB data, 100 SMS
Notes: Minimal data; voice-only ₹1,849 for 365 days.

🟣 Vi (Vodafone Idea)
Plan Price: ₹99
Validity: 15 days
Benefits: ₹99 talktime, 200MB data, no SMS (except porting)
Notes: Short validity; voice-only ₹1,460 for 270 days.

🟢 BSNL
Plan Price: ₹107
Validity: 35 days
Benefits: Unlimited calls, 3GB data, 200 SMS
Notes: Longer base validity; recent reductions in other plans.

💡 Insight: BSNL continues to offer the longest validity and a fairer plan structure — making it the best choice for low-usage or secondary SIM users.

💤 Grace Periods and SIM Inactivity Rules

🟦 Jio
Inactivity Limit: 90 days
Grace Period: Limited incoming for a short period
₹20 Extension: +30 days
Permanent Deactivation: After 90 days of inactivity

🔴 Airtel
Inactivity Limit: 90–120 days
Grace Period: 15 days
₹20 Extension: +30 days
Permanent Deactivation: After grace period expires

🟣 Vi (Vodafone Idea)
Inactivity Limit: 90 days
Grace Period: None specified
₹20 Extension: +30 days
Permanent Deactivation: Requires minimum ₹49 recharge after 90 days

🟢 BSNL
Inactivity Limit: 180 days
Grace Period: None
₹20 Extension: +30 days
Permanent Deactivation: Longest grace period; highly consumer-friendly

💡 Insight: BSNL’s 180-day inactivity allowance makes it the only network ideal for secondary or low-usage SIMs — particularly in rural and low-connectivity regions.

The 28-Day Validity Trap: The Hidden Overpayment

The 28-day cycle may seem small, but its impact is massive when calculated annually.

Example:

Plan: ₹199 / 28 days
Number of recharges per year: 365 ÷ 28 = 13.04 times
Annual cost = ₹199 × 13.04 = ₹2,595
True 12-month equivalent = ₹199 × 12 = ₹2,388
Hidden extra cost: ₹207/year

That means users pay for 13 months in a 12-month year — an invisible surcharge baked into the system.

Multiply this across hundreds of millions of active plans, and it translates to billions in extra revenue for telecom companies annually.

Impact on Consumers

The implications of these practices are far-reaching:

Financial strain on low-income users: Many spend just to keep incoming calls active — an unnecessary expense.
Digital disruption: Plan expiry instantly blocks incoming OTPs, halting access to UPI payments, banking, and Aadhaar-linked services.
Wasted resources: Dual-SIM users lose unused data, since most providers don’t allow rollover for secondary SIMs.
Psychological fatigue: Constant 28-day renewals create stress and confusion, especially among elderly and rural users.

Though TRAI’s 2025 reforms introduced voice-only packs and longer grace periods, implementation remains patchy and inconsistent across circles.

The December 2025 Price Hike Rumor

In November 2025, several posts on X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp groups claimed that operators would increase tariffs by 10–12% starting December 1, 2025.

Fact check:

As of early November, no telecom operator — including Jio, Airtel, or Vi — has officially confirmed any such hike.
Analysts at Axis Capital, JP Morgan, Bernstein, Motilal Oswal, and JM Financial predict hikes between 10–20%, but over December 2025 to June 2026, not on a single date.
The goal is to raise ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) from the current ₹211–₹230 range to around ₹300 by FY27.

Thus, the viral charts showing “₹199 → ₹222” and “₹899 → ₹1006” are speculative projections, not factual announcements.

What Consumers Can Do

Here’s how users can protect themselves and demand fairer treatment:

Contact customer care (198) — Request plan details, validity clarifications, or refunds for unused days.
Escalate to TRAI’s TCCMS portal — File complaints with screenshots or transaction proofs.
Email TRAI directly — daca@trai.gov.in for unfair validity or misleading plan concerns.
Use consumer courts — Especially for repeated validity or overcharging issues.
Port to BSNL — Text PORT <your number> to 1900 for a 180-day grace period and simpler plans.
Use recharge tracking apps — Avoid overlapping recharges and renew a day early to prevent disconnection.

Awareness is your strongest weapon. Public pressure already pushed TRAI to introduce “voice-only” and “minimum recharge” reforms in early 2025.

Why Strengthening BSNL Matters

BSNL is India’s only public telecom operator and the last safeguard against complete private monopoly. It plays a critical role in connecting rural India and offering affordable plans for low-income groups.

🏛️ Government Support (2019–2025)

📅 2019
Package: ₹69,000 crore
Focus: Debt relief, asset monetization
Outcome: Stabilized finances and enabled early restructuring within BSNL.

📅 2022
Package: ₹1,64,000 crore
Focus: 4G/5G spectrum allocation and capital expenditure for modernization
Outcome: Nationwide 4G rollout to over 96,000 sites, paving the way for 5G readiness.

📅 2025
Package: ₹6,982 crore (additional)
Focus: Indigenous 4G/5G technology through C-DoT and Tejas Networks
Outcome: Achieved profitability in FY 2024–25, marking BSNL’s revival phase.

💡 Insight: BSNL’s modernization push and the government’s cumulative investment of ₹3.22 lakh crore reflect a strong commitment to building an independent, competitive, and indigenous telecom powerhouse for India.

A stronger BSNL ensures pricing balance, fairer plans, and less exploitation in a duopoly-dominated market.

Key Takeaways

The 28-day validity effectively charges consumers for 13 months each year.
Voice-only packs and grace extensions are available but under-promoted.
Price hike rumors remain unverified; official confirmation is pending.
BSNL is regaining momentum with 4G and indigenous 5G rollout.
Consumers must stay alert, question hidden charges, and file grievances when necessary.

The Road Ahead

Private operators will likely phase in price increases gradually between late 2025 and mid-2026 to improve profitability. BSNL, meanwhile, continues expanding its 4G and upcoming 5G services, focusing on rural and low-income consumers.

India’s telecom future depends on:

Stronger TRAI enforcement,
Mandatory 30-day validity norms,
Data rollover mandates, and
Consumer awareness campaigns.

Connectivity is a necessity — not a luxury.

Stay informed. Stay connected. Recharge your awareness, not just your SIM. ⚡