Mobile users who mainly need calling and SMS services will soon have more recharge options. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced
new rules requiring telecom operators to offer voice and SMS-only prepaid plans across more validity periods. The move targets consumers who currently pay for bundled mobile data they may never use.
Under the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, operators must introduce separate calling and SMS vouchers at appropriately reduced prices. TRAI found that existing plans were limited and concentrated around longer validity periods, leaving customers with fewer short-term recharge choices. The regulator listed the final amendment on September 22.
What are TRAI’s new recharge rules?
The amendment changes how telecom companies offer Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs).
Operators must provide voice and SMS-only vouchers for every validity period of 30 days or less for which they sell combined calling, SMS and data vouchers.
They must offer a monthly voucher that can be renewed on the same calendar date. If that date does not exist in a particular month, the last day of that month will apply.
Telecom companies must provide at least one longer-validity voice and SMS-only voucher corresponding to an existing bundled plan.
Why has TRAI introduced these changes?
TRAI introduced an earlier rule in 2024 requiring operators to offer at least one voice and SMS-only voucher. The regulator subsequently found that customers still had limited choices.
The new amendment follows a consultation launched on April 7, 2026. TRAI received 1,132 stakeholder responses and held an open discussion on June 15.
The regulator said the changes would allow low-income consumers to recharge according to their financial capacity.
What does this mean for Jio, Airtel and Vi users?
Customers who use basic phones, maintain secondary SIM cards or rely mainly on calling can expect more recharge choices.
The rules require operators to reduce tariffs appropriately when removing data benefits.
