Telecom & Recharge Terms Glossary | PlanCompareHub

High-speed mobile data delivered over an operator’s 5G network, included at no extra cost on most current Airtel, Jio, and Vi plans in covered areas.

5G NSA stands for 5G Non-Standalone. It anchors 5G radio to an existing 4G LTE core. Airtel’s initial 5G Plus rollout in India used NSA before moving toward SA. NSA phones connect to 4G for control signalling and use 5G for data.

5G SA stands for 5G Standalone. It is a 5G network that uses a dedicated 5G core, separate from 4G. Jio rolled out a true SA network in India, which enables lower latency and features like network slicing and improved battery efficiency on supported handsets.

A prepaid plan with a validity of 300 days or more, designed for users who prefer a single yearly recharge over monthly top-ups.

APN is the gateway name your phone uses to connect to the mobile operator’s data network. Each operator publishes its own APN, for example jionet for Jio or airtelgprs.com for Airtel. APN is usually set automatically on Indian SIMs, but may need manual entry after an eSIM transfer.

Auto Recharge is a saved instruction that recharges your prepaid number automatically when validity is about to expire or balance runs low. Jio, Airtel, and Vi offer this through their apps using UPI mandates so the same plan renews without manual action.

Carry Forward Data is unused daily data that moves to the next day under select plans. Most Indian operators do not carry daily data forward by default. Jio’s data rollover, Airtel’s data carry-forward on specific packs, and Vi’s data delight let leftover data accumulate up to a stated cap.

Circle Roaming applies when you travel from your home telecom circle to another circle inside India. Since 2015 TRAI’s One Nation One Rate policy, domestic roaming on calls and data is free across all operators.

The amount of high-speed data available each day under a plan, after which speed may be reduced until the next day’s allowance resets.

A benefit on some plans where unused data from a previous period, such as a weekend, carries forward to the next period instead of being lost.

An add-on recharge that provides extra data without changing the validity or calling benefits of the user’s main active plan.

A digital SIM built into a compatible device, allowing users to activate a mobile plan without inserting a physical SIM card.

A limit set by operators on high-speed data or unlimited calls, after which speed is reduced or per-minute charges may apply for the rest of the validity period.

A short audio clip that plays for callers before a call is answered, offered as a free add-on benefit on several prepaid plans.

IMEI is the 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity number of your handset. India’s CEIR portal uses IMEI to block lost or stolen phones. Dial *#06# to see the IMEI of any device. Each physical SIM slot or eSIM profile has its own IMEI.

IMSI is the International Mobile Subscriber Identity stored on your SIM or eSIM profile. The operator uses IMSI to authenticate your line on the network. It is different from the phone number and is never shown to other users.

IUC was the per-minute fee operators paid each other for calls landing on rival networks. Jio introduced a temporary IUC top-up in 2019 before TRAI moved to bill-and-keep in 2021, after which IUC charges to end users were withdrawn on most Indian plans.

KYC is the identity verification required before a SIM is activated in India. Operators collect Aadhaar-based eKYC or self-KYC through their app, along with a live photo. A SIM cannot make calls or use data on the network until KYC is completed.

Night Data is bonus data, separate from the daily quota, that can only be used during a fixed late-night window, usually 12 AM to 6 AM. Some Jio Cricket Season packs and older Vi night packs bundle night data so heavy downloads do not eat the daily limit.

Subscriptions to streaming or entertainment apps, such as JioCinema, Disney+ Hotstar, or Vi Movies and TV, bundled with select recharge plans.

UPC is the Unique Porting Code used to switch operators while keeping the same number under MNP. Send PORT <your number> to 1900 to receive a UPC over SMS. The code is valid for four days and must be handed to the new operator at the time of SIM activation.

A mobile plan where users pay after using the service, based on a monthly bill that covers calls, SMS, and data used during the billing cycle.

A mobile plan where users pay in advance for calls, SMS, and data. Recharge is required before the current plan expires to keep the service active.

RCS is the successor to SMS. It supports read receipts, typing indicators, group chats, and high-resolution media over your data connection. Google Messages enables RCS by default on Indian Android phones on Jio and Airtel networks.

The ability to use mobile services, including calls, SMS, and data, while traveling outside the subscriber’s home telecom circle.

A small chip issued by a telecom operator that identifies a subscriber on the network and stores the account information needed for calls, SMS, and data.

SIM Swap is the process of replacing an existing SIM with a new one for the same number, usually after damage, loss, or upgrade to 5G or eSIM. Indian operators require KYC re-verification and impose a 24-hour cool-down on outgoing SMS to prevent OTP fraud.

Speed Throttling is the reduction of data speed after you cross your daily or pack FUP limit. Most Indian unlimited plans throttle the connection to 64 Kbps or 128 Kbps for the rest of the day, which is enough for chat but too slow for streaming.

A long-distance call made to a number outside the caller’s home telecom circle but within India, typically included in unlimited calling plans.

The credit balance available on a prepaid SIM card, used for calls, SMS, or services that are not covered by the active data plan.

A geographic licensing area defined by TRAI where a telecom operator is authorized to provide services. India is divided into 22 such circles.

A small recharge that adds talktime or data to a prepaid account without extending the validity of the main active plan.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the government body that regulates telecom operators, pricing transparency, and consumer protection rules.

A recharge plan that provides unlimited voice calls across networks, combined with a fixed daily or total data allowance for the validity period.

USSD is a text menu service accessed by dialing short codes that start with star and end with hash, such as *123# for balance. USSD works without internet on any handset and is widely used in India for balance checks, plan offers, and DND activation.

The number of days during which a recharge plan’s benefits, such as data and unlimited calls, remain active before the plan expires.

A Voice Pack is a recharge meant only for unlimited or large-bucket calling, with little or no data. BSNL and Vi still sell dedicated voice packs for users on basic feature phones or secondary numbers who only need talktime and outgoing minutes.

VoLTE stands for Voice over LTE. It routes calls over the 4G data channel instead of the older 2G or 3G voice channel, giving HD voice quality and faster call setup. Jio launched as a VoLTE-only network, and Airtel and Vi now support VoLTE across India.

Voice over Wi-Fi allows users to make and receive HD voice calls using a broadband Wi-Fi connection when cellular network coverage is weak or unavailable indoors.