The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced new regulations that offer prepaid mobile users in India more flexible recharge options, including 30-day plans and voice-and-SMS-only packages. This move aims to enhance consumer choice and address the needs of users who do not require mobile data services.
Under the Telecom Consumers Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, major telecom operators such as Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea are mandated to provide voice-and-SMS-only plans with validity periods of 30 days or less, wherever similar bundled plans are available. Additionally, the regulations stipulate that monthly plans must renew on the same date every month. If the corresponding date is absent in a particular month, such as in February, the plan will renew on the last day of that month.
TRAI has further instructed telecom providers to introduce at least one longer-duration voice-and-SMS-only plan, aligning with the validity periods of their comprehensive data-bundled plans. This requirement aims to cater to customers who mainly use their mobile phones for calls and messaging, offering them a cost-effective alternative that excludes data services.
The introduction of these new options follows TRAI’s previous directives in December 2024, which encouraged the expansion of voice-and-SMS-only plans across various validity periods. The regulator found that operators had not fully implemented these options, prompting the current amendments to ensure compliance and broaden the range of choices available to consumers.
The changes are expected to benefit a wide array of users, including senior citizens and those seeking more affordable plans without the additional cost of mobile data. By providing these flexible options, TRAI aims to empower consumers with tailored choices that better suit their specific usage patterns and financial preferences.