TRAI has taken a major and significant decision keeping in mind the interests of millions of prepaid mobile subscribers. The regulator has issued the ‘Telecom Consumer Protection Regulations, 2026’. Under these new rules, major telecom companies in the country—such as Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL—will be required to introduce low-cost mobile recharge plans offering only call and SMS facilities. Consequently, customers will no longer be compelled to purchase expensive plans that include unwanted internet data.
What do TRAI’s new regulations entail? Simply put, TRAI has issued strict directives to companies to make more options—and more affordable ones—available for customers who do not require data when recharging their mobile phones. Under the new regulations, telecom companies are mandated to offer ‘Voice & SMS Only STVs’ (Special Tariff Vouchers). It has been made compulsory to provide such plans—covering only calls and SMS—with a validity of 30 days or less. Customers will also have the option to easily renew their recharge on a specific date each month. Additionally, it has been made mandatory to offer at least one voice-and-SMS plan with a validity exceeding 30 days.
How will customers benefit from this move by TRAI? Users who do not use mobile internet or data will no longer have to pay extra charges specifically for data. Customers can choose from various recharge plans—ranging from small to large—based on their actual needs and budget. TRAI noted that telecom companies previously offered ‘Voice and SMS’-centric STVs (Special Tariff Vouchers) only in limited numbers and with long validity periods. Consequently, low-income individuals and average consumers were deprived of affordable, short-validity recharge options. To address this issue, TRAI had sought suggestions from the public and experts a few months ago, receiving a total of 1,132 responses and comments. When will the new recharge plans become available?
The notification issued by TRAI does not specify a particular date; however, the responsibility for implementing this rule now lies with the telecom companies. It is expected that in the coming days, companies will launch new prepaid plans with short validity periods that offer only calling and SMS facilities. In the future, if someone requires a 30-day recharge solely for making calls and sending messages, they will not need to purchase expensive data plans; instead, they will be able to easily access plans dedicated to calling.
