TRAI extends prepaid account detail deadline for service providers

Early this year, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, or the TRAI introduced a fresh set of stringent regulations to improve the affairs of the telecom sector in the country, under the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulation 2012. Among the many noteworthy changes that the new regulations proposed, bringing more transparency for the otherwise oblivious prepaid users brought the TRAI appreciative nods. TRAI had set a 45-day time frame for service providers to implement the new rules, which has now been extended to 75 days, confirms a Telecom Talk report.

Getting better will take a little longer!  (Image credit: Getty Images)

Those prepaid users who're not in the know of the new changes that they could avail, here's a little recap. The new set of regulations, under the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulation 2012 has made it compulsory for mobile service providers to provide prepaid users with accurate updates regarding dialled calls and data downloaded. The details, thus mentioned will then be sent over to the users, either via an SMS or by a USSD-based flash message. Information like, the duration of calls or data usage (2G/3G), the amount deducted as a result and their remaining prepaid account balance will be a part of the details that the user will be provided by their respective service provider.

This highlights, yet another important point; thanks to new regulations prepaid users will have an account of all charges levied on them. The report further adds that, "All operators also requested additional time for clearing the existing stock of Topup and tariff vouchers. Considering the requests of the mobile service providers , TRAI has decided to extend the time period for implementing the new regulations to 75 days from the existing limit of 45 days."