The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has introduced new rules requiring telecom operators to offer voice- and SMS-only recharge plans with short validity, expanding options for nearly 20 crore users seeking affordable, basic connectivity.
TRAI has moved to make voice-and-SMS-only recharge plans a mandatory part of mobile tariff offerings, widening access to short-validity vouchers for customers who do not need mobile data. The regulator’s change is designed to give greater choice to users who rely mainly on calls and text messages, while also addressing a long-standing shortage of affordable non-data plans in the market.
Under the new framework, telecom operators must offer Special Tariff Vouchers with voice and SMS only for validity periods of up to 30 days. The rules also require a renewal option on the same date each month, which should make these plans easier to manage for subscribers who recharge on a fixed cycle. According to reporting by Business Standard and Outlook Business, the obligation applies to the shorter validity slabs where bundled plans are already sold, which means operators cannot leave this segment without a comparable non-data option.
The revised rules follow consultation and industry pushback. Reuters-style reporting from Financial Express and The Economic Times noted that major operators had opposed the proposal, arguing that it could disrupt existing tariff structures. Even so, the regulator has pressed ahead, reflecting a policy preference for lower-cost, more flexible access for customers with limited usage needs. Industry observers estimate that the change could affect more than 20 crore users, many of whom fall into lower-spend or voice-heavy categories.
The move also appears to close a gap that emerged after earlier tariff changes made short-duration voice-only vouchers harder to find. According to Nation Press, TRAI has also required at least one longer-validity voice-and-SMS STV aligned with the validity periods used for bundled offers, ensuring that operators provide a fuller range of options. In practical terms, the decision may force telcos to rethink how they segment prepaid services, especially for customers who want only basic connectivity rather than data-heavy packages.
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