Planning to wish your near and dear ones on the eve of Onam? Well, we have a bit of a bad news to share with our readers in Kerala if you are still don’t have free messaging apps installed in your mobile phones. Most of the operators are observing SMS ‘blackout’ this Onam when you will be charged for your SMS which are otherwise free under any plan /package.
The term Blackout days generally refers to the days on which the service providers do not allow freebies such as free or concessional SMS, voice and GSM services offered by them in their various circles of operation. As per TRAI norms, the telecom operators can choose any five days in a year for SMS black out which includes Diwali, Christmas, Onam, Independence Day and others.
As the week long onam celebrations begin tomorrow, Telecomtalk brings you the list of the operators along with their respective blackout dates.
OPERATOR | BLACKOUT DATES |
Vodafone | September 15th, 16th |
Idea | September 15th, 16th |
Airtel | September 15th |
Reliance (GSM & CDMA - Prepaid & Postpaid) | September 16th |
Aircel | September 16th |
TATA (GSM - Prepaid, Postpaid; CDMA - Prepaid Mobile and Walky) | September 15th, 16th |
Sistema Shyam Teleservices Limited (MTS) | September 16th |
BSNL | September 16th |
Last year, TRAI released certain guidelines related to blackout days such as Mobile operators should not charge customers on calls or SMSes beyond their existing tariff plans on ‘Blackout Days’. Also, Consumers shall be given intimation prior to start of every Blackout Day among others.
Although the growing popularity of the free messaging apps like whatsapp, wechat etc. nullifies the effect of SMS ‘Blackout’, moving into 2014, do you think that operators should still observe ‘blackout’ days in the years to come? Let’s know your thoughts in the comments below.
Thanks to Jibin John
