The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed telecom operators to offer more voice- and SMS-only recharge options, giving consumers without mobile data more prepaid plan choices.
The move comes after the regulator found that such vouchers were limited, particularly for shorter validity periods. Vodafone Idea shares rose 2.10% following the announcement.
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TRAI Expands Voice and SMS-Only Recharge Options
TRAI released the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulation, 2026. The new rules require telecom service providers to offer more Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) that provide only voice and SMS services.
Under the amended framework, operators must offer voice-and-SMS-only STVs for every validity period of 30 days or less for which they offer combined voice, SMS and data STVs These plans must come with an appropriate reduction in tariff.
Operators must also provide a voice-and-SMS-only voucher that can be renewed on the same date each month. If that date does not exist in a particular month, renewal will take place on the last day of that month.
In addition, at least one voice-and-SMS-only STV must have a longer validity period than the voice, SMS, and data vouchers the operator offers.
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Why TRAI Changed the Tariff Rules
TRAI said voice-and-SMS-only vouchers were available in limited numbers and were largely concentrated around longer validity periods. This left low-income consumers with fewer shorter-duration options.
The regulator said the revised tariff framework would give consumers more flexibility to choose plans based on their requirements and financial capacity, particularly those who do not want data bundled with their recharge.
The amendment followed a consultation process that began with TRAI’s draft proposal on April 7, 2026. The regulator received 1,132 stakeholder responses and held an Open House Discussion on June 15 before finalising the rules.
Vi Shares Rise as Telecom Tariffs Remain in Focus
Vodafone Idea shares were trading at around Rs 14.13 on the BSE, up 2.10% at 1:45 PM on Tuesday. Bharti Airtel shares were around Rs 1,816.65, down 0.73%.
The development comes as telecom operators continue to focus on monetisation and average revenue per user. Airtel had raised the entry price of some unlimited daily-data prepaid plans to Rs 349 from Rs 299 in August. Its mobile ARPU stood at Rs 264 in the June quarter, compared with Rs 250 a year earlier.
The immediate change is straightforward: consumers who only need calling and SMS will have more plan choices, while operators will need to reshape their prepaid offerings around the new TRAI requirements.
Samarjit Kaur is a journalist and communications professional covering technology & emerging digital trends. With a focus on clarity and context, she reports on developments shaping industries and governance. When not reporting, she chooses to plug-in and relax on her playlists and plan her next bucket-list trips!
