TRAI Mandates More Voice and SMS only Recharge Options; Vi Shares Soar
The new rule aims to give feature-phone and budget users cheaper calling and texting options with monthly renewal and long-duration plans.
- TRAI mandated new SMS-only plans under the Telecom Consumer Protection 13th Amendment, requiring telecom operators to offer affordable vouchers with varied validity to ensure fair pricing for consumers.
- After the Twelfth Amendment, TRAI noticed telecom providers were shrinking simple call-and-text plans. Most telcos pushed customers toward data bundles, forcing those with tight budgets to pay for services they did not need.
- Key mandates under the 13th Amendment require providers to launch discounted vouchers with 30 days or less validity. Plans must also offer simple monthly renewal options for those wanting voice-and-SMS-only access.
- Promoting inclusivity in telecom access, TRAI aims to help those who rely on feature phones by separating calling from data. Consumers can now pick options that suit their needs more affordably.
- Following a public consultation on April 7, 2026, TRAI crafted this Amendment with feedback from over a thousand responses. Separately, TRAI Report shows India's telecom subscriber base crossed 134.3 crore, with Airtel leading new user additions amid AI-based spam detection rules.
29 Articles
29 Articles
TRAI mandates affordable voice-and-SMS-only plans to benefit mobile users
TRAI has issued the Telecom Consumer Protection (13th Amendment) Regulations (2026), aiming to mandate new rules to offer voice-and-SMS-only plans with validities of 30 days or less, same-date monthly renewals, and longer validities parallel to data-bundled plans.
TRAI orders telcos to offer shorter-validity voice, SMS recharge plans for low income users
TRAI has finalised rules requiring telecom operators to offer shorter-validity voice and SMS recharge options, giving consumers who do not need data more flexibility in choosing prepaid plans.
The biggest problem with mobile recharges these days is that data-free plans are not available. Furthermore, a monthly validity is only available for 28 days. TRAI has now mandated that these companies will be required to offer data-free plans. This means that in the future, we may see cheaper plans with full validity.
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