New Delhi. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has taken an important step for low-income telecom consumers. TRAI has directed telecom service providers to offer only voice call and SMS plans with low validity. Appropriate tariff cuts will also have to be made in these plans. This decision will provide more affordable and flexible recharge options to consumers who do not require data services.
Read :- Why does the remaining internet data expire at midnight? MP Raghav Chadha raised questions on the rules of telecom companies
#BREAKING: TRAI's big decision in mobile recharge. If data is not required then telecom companies will have to provide only Call + SMS package, Voice & SMS Only STV. Options with validity up to 30 days and more than 30 days are required. A plan to be renewed on the same date every month will also have to be given. #TRAI pic.twitter.com/Uu3eWwHxw1
— Pardaphash Today (@PardaphashToday) September 22, 2026
TRAI has said this in its Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. This move will give consumers more options to recharge as per their needs and financial capacity. Under the new framework, service providers will have to offer only voice and SMS STVs (Special Tariff Vouchers) with a validity period of 30 days and less. Along with this, there will also have to be a suitable reduction in the tariff as per the validity period of STV currently being given for voice, SMS and data.
Why was this needed?
TRAI said in an official statement that after the implementation of the Telecom Consumer Protection (Twelfth Amendment), 2024, the availability of only voice and SMS STVs in the market was limited. The plans available were mainly focused on long validity periods. This was depriving low-income consumers of affordable short-term options. The regulator felt that this situation needed to change.
What are the new plan options?
Under the new instructions, operators will also have to offer a voice-only and SMS STV that can be renewed on the same date every month. If the respective renewal date is not available in a particular month, the renewal will take place on the last date of that month. Additionally, telecom operators will also have to offer at least one voice only and SMS STV with longer validity than short and monthly validity options. This plan will also be as per the validity period of STV being given for voice, SMS and data.
Who will get the benefit?
TRAI believes that this revised tariff structure will adequately meet the needs of consumers. This amendment will especially benefit low-income consumers and users who do not want to purchase telecom plans bundled with data services. This change is expected to improve the availability of voice-only and SMS options across different validity periods. This will give consumers more flexibility in choosing recharge plans based on their usage and affordability.