The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has unveiled new regulations aimed at providing prepaid mobile users with more flexible and cost-effective recharge options. This move mandates telecom operators such as Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea to offer plans that include only voice and SMS services with validity periods of 30 days or less, as well as longer-duration options. These changes are part of the Telecom Consumers Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026.
Under the new rules, TRAI requires that monthly prepaid plans automatically renew on the same date each month. In cases where the specific date does not occur in a given month, the renewal will take place on the month’s last day. This adjustment is intended to simplify billing cycles and enhance user convenience.
The directive also emphasizes the need for operators to provide at least one longer-duration voice-and-SMS-only plan that aligns with their existing longer data-bundled plans. This initiative primarily targets customers who rely on their phones for calls and messages but do not require mobile data, catering particularly to senior citizens and users seeking more affordable mobile options.
The introduction of these provisions follows TRAI’s earlier directives from December 2024, which urged telecom companies to expand their offerings of voice-and-SMS-only plans across various validity periods. The regulator observed that many operators had not sufficiently broadened these options, prompting the current amendments.
By implementing these changes, TRAI aims to enhance consumer choice and address the needs of users preferring lower-cost plans devoid of mobile data services. The new regulations are expected to provide additional flexibility and cater to a broader range of customer preferences in the Indian telecom market.