TRAI orders telcos to offer shorter-validity voice, SMS recharge plans for low income users

Reports coming in for today mention that The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has finalised rules requiring telecom operators to offer shorter-validity Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) for voice and SMS services, expanding recharge options for consumers who do not need bundled data.

Under the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, released on September 21, telecom service providers will have to offer STVs with validity periods of 30 days or less for voice, SMS and data services. The new framework seeks to address the limited availability of voice-and-SMS-only vouchers, which TRAI stated had been concentrated around longer validity periods.

The regulator stated the limited availability of shorter-duration options particularly affected low-income consumers and those who do not want to pay for data bundled with their voice and SMS requirements.

Operators will additionally have to offer at least one STV that can be renewed on the same date every month. If that date does not exist in a particular month, the renewal date will shift to the last date of that month.

In addition, operators will have to offer at least one STV with a validity period longer than the monthly-renewable option, while the other STVs will have validity periods of 30 days or less.

TRAI rules follow consultation process

The changes follow a consultation process initiated by TRAI earlier this year. The regulator released the draft Thirteenth Amendment regulations on April 7, 2026, after observing limitations in the availability of voice-and-SMS-only STVs following the implementation of the Twelfth Amendment to the Telecom Consumer Protection Regulations in 2024.

TRAI received 1,132 responses from stakeholders to the draft amendment and subsequently conducted an Open House Discussion on June 15, 2026. The final regulations were prepared based on stakeholder feedback and the regulator’s analysis.

The regulator stated the revised tariff framework would give consumers greater flexibility in choosing recharge options according to their requirements and financial capacity.

The move is particularly aimed at consumers who primarily use mobile connections for calling and messaging and may have limited use for mobile data. TRAI stated the revised framework would improve choice for customers who prefer not to use STVs bundled with data.

The amendment comes as telecom operators increasingly structure prepaid offerings around longer validity periods and bundled data, while a segment of consumers keeps seek softer-cost, voice-centric plans.

The regulations have been placed on TRAI’s website and will govern the availability and structure of the specified STVs offered by telecom service providers.