Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has announced the withdrawal of URL based data packs. The decision comes as a follow up of a recent regulation on prohibition of discriminatory tariffs for data services regulations, 2016 by TRAI. Recently, Telenor and Airtel withdrew their WhatsApp data packs on similar grounds.

BSNL was offering Rs.30 and Rs.40 based social media centric add-on data plans to its customers, which was launched 2 years back exclusively for Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter browsing. However, these data packs were only available for postpaid customers.

Monthly Rent Add-on Data Plans Freebies offered Rs. 30 BSNL Whatsapp Data Pack 200 MB Whatsapp Data Rs. 40 Facebook and Twitter Pack 250 MB Facebook/Twitter Data

Indian telecom regulator TRAI ruled against discriminatory tariffs for data services on the basis of the content. The telecom regulator announced a penalty of Rs 50,000/day, capped at Rs 50 lakh, which will be levied on service providers who breach the rule. As an aftermath of the regulation, telecos are ending WhatsApp/Facebook data packs. TRAI has provided a six-month grace period to telecos for complying with new rules.