TRAI tightens tariff rules, mandates voice-SMS plans across all recharge durations

India’s telecom regulator has moved to strengthen consumer choice in mobile tariffs, proposing that operators offer voice-and-SMS-only plans for every recharge validity period — not just a select few long-term packs — and price them proportionally lower than bundled data plans.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the Draft Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulation, 2026 this week, marking a course correction on its December 2024 mandate that had required operators to offer at least one such plan. A review found that while companies technically complied, most offered only two or three long-duration options — typically 80, 84 or 365-day packs — leaving users with little flexibility on shorter recharge cycles.

The new proposal is more prescriptive: for every unique validity period under which a bundled voice, SMS and data voucher is offered, operators must also make available a corresponding voice-and-SMS-only option at a proportionally reduced price.

The move is aimed squarely at protecting users who do not need or cannot afford data — including low-income subscribers, elderly users and feature phone users — from being effectively forced into higher-cost bundled plans. TRAI noted that multiple consumer representations had highlighted the absence of shorter-duration voice-only packs since the December 2024 rules came into effect.

“Lack of parity goes against the objective of ensuring fair, equal and non-discriminatory choices for all consumers, regardless of their service requirements,” TRAI said in the draft.

The regulation is open for stakeholder comments until 28 April 2026. Submissions can be sent electronically to TRAI’s Financial & Economic Analysis division at [email protected]. The full draft is available on TRAI’s website at www.trai.gov.in.

CT Bureau