This is what I usually do for my secondary SIM. I have enlisted the procedure for both Vi and airtel, with the revised amounts of minimum recharge now. Note that validity / recharge amounts for Vi may slightly vary based on your circle.
Number retention technique for Vi (with Incoming SMS facility):
- Recharge Rs 49. You get 14 days service validity.
- Make an outgoing call on 14th day (last day)
- From 15th day to 104th day - No recharge (TRAI policy applies for 90 days retention). Yes, incoming calls also stop but I dont need it. For the entire duration of 90 days grace period, you will continue to get incoming SMS (OTP, etc.), valid for Vi users only.
- 104th day: Recharge Rs 49 for 14 days service validity again.
- REPEAT the above procedure.
- If you are abroad, and you don't want to make an outgoing card, then you need to count your 90 days from the day of recharge (and not from the day of last outgoing call), so you will get 90 days per recharge (inclusive of 14 day service validity period). As per TRAI, a "usage" is considered as any call or "payment of rental" - which I consider as "recharge for prepaid".
If you are abroad, for Rs 49 x 3 recharges = Rs 147, you will get total 90 days x 3 = 270 days validity
Number retention technique for airtel (NO Incoming SMS facility):
- Recharge Rs 19. You get 2 days service validity.
- After 2 days, you get an additional 3 days service validity for free by airtel)
- Make an outgoing call on that 5th day (last day)
- From 6th day to 95th day - No recharge (TRAI policy applies for 90 days retention). Yes, incoming calls also stop but I dont need it. Note that airtel blocks selective incoming SMS (like from Banks, OTP etc.) but keeps sending their own promotional SMS.
- 95th day: Recharge Rs 19 for 2 days service validity again.
- REPEAT the above procedure.
- If you are abroad, and you don't want to make an outgoing card, then you need to count your 90 days from the day of recharge (and not from the day of last outgoing call), so you will get 90 days per recharge (inclusive of 2 days + 3 days service validity period). As per TRAI, a "usage" is considered as any call or "payment of rental" - which I consider as "recharge for prepaid".
If you are abroad, for Rs 19 x 4 recharges = Rs 76, you will get total 90 days x 4 = 360 days validity
You may get the full details on TRAI "Guidelines" in the Consumer Handbook here:
This was released in the Year 2018. There has not been any further updated version released for Telecom Services yet.
