NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced new rules requiring telecom operators to provide more recharge options that offer only voice calling and SMS services, without bundled mobile data. Under the new rules, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) will have to offer voice-and-SMS-only plans for every validity period of 30 days or less for which they already provide bundled plans with calls, SMS and data.
The voice-and-SMS-only plans must be priced lower than comparable bundled plans, with an appropriate reduction in tariff. The rules also require operators to offer at least one voice-and-SMS-only plan that can be renewed on the same date every month.
If that date is not available in a particular month, the plan should be renewable on the last day of that month.In addition, telecom companies must provide at least one longer-validity voice-and-SMS-only voucher corresponding to the longer-validity bundled plans they offer.
Why has TRAI introduced the changes?
According to TRAI, telecom operators had been offering only a limited number of voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs), with most focused on longer validity periods. This meant that low-income consumers had fewer affordable options for shorter durations. The changes are also aimed at consumers such as senior citizens and those who primarily rely on Wi-Fi for internet access and do not want to pay for mobile data they rarely use.
TRAI released the draft Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, for public consultation on April 7, 2026. The regulator received 1,132 responses from stakeholders and held an Open House Discussion on June 15, 2026. After reviewing the feedback and conducting its own analysis, TRAI finalised the amendment.
What do the new rules mean for users?
Consumers who do not require mobile data will have more choices when recharging their phones. For instance, users who mainly use their phones for calls and SMS and rely on Wi-Fi for internet access can choose a voice-and-SMS-only plan instead of paying for a bundled recharge that includes mobile data. The actual savings will depend on the plans introduced by individual operators and their prices. The monthly-renewal option could also make it easier for users to keep track of their recharge dates instead of renewing a plan every 28 days.
Will recharge frequency change?
Many prepaid plans currently provide 28 days of validity rather than a full calendar month. This can mean that users seeking uninterrupted service may need 13 recharges over 364 days instead of 12 recharges in a year. For example, a Rs 299 plan with 28-day validity would cost Rs 3,887 over 13 recharges. If a plan at the same price had 30-day validity, 12 recharges would cost Rs 3,588 over 360 days.
However, this is only an illustration assuming the price remains unchanged. The amendment does not require telecom operators to convert all existing 28-day plans into 30-day plans. Its focus is on expanding voice-and-SMS-only options, providing a monthly-renewal choice and ensuring that such plans are priced appropriately.
