TRAI’s Major Decision: Companies Must Offer Plans Without Data; Customers to Get Affordable Service
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has taken a significant step for low-income telecom consumers. TRAI has directed telecom service providers to offer voice-call-and-SMS-only plans with shorter validity periods. These plans must also feature appropriate tariff reductions. This decision will provide more affordable and flexible recharge options to consumers who do not require data services.
TRAI outlined this in its Telecom Consumers Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. This move offers consumers a wider range of recharge choices tailored to their needs and financial capacity. Under the new framework, service providers must offer voice-and-SMS-only STVs (Special Tariff Vouchers) with validity periods of 30 days or less. Additionally, tariffs must be appropriately reduced in line with the validity periods of existing STVs that include voice, SMS, and data.
Why was this necessary?
In an official statement, TRAI noted that the availability of voice-and-SMS-only STVs in the market had become limited following the implementation of the Telecom Consumers Protection (Twelfth Amendment), 2024. Existing plans were primarily focused on long validity periods, depriving low-income consumers of affordable, short-term options. The regulator recognized the need to address this situation.
What are the new plan options?
Under the new directives, operators must offer a voice-and-SMS-only STV that can be renewed on the same date every month. If the specific renewal date does not exist in a particular month, the renewal will take place on the last day of that month. Furthermore, telecom operators must offer at least one voice-and-SMS-only STV with a longer validity period, in addition to the short-term and monthly options. This plan’s validity period must also align with that of existing STVs offering voice, SMS, and data.
Who will benefit? TRAI believes that this revised tariff framework will adequately meet consumer needs. This revision will particularly benefit low-income consumers and users who do not wish to purchase telecom plans bundled with data services. The change is expected to improve the availability of voice-only and SMS-only options across various validity periods, offering consumers greater flexibility in choosing recharge plans based on their usage and affordability.
