TRAI has finalised new rules requiring telecom operators to offer more voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs), including shorter-validity options and a monthly renewable plan. The Telecom Consumers Protection (13th Amendment) Regulations, 2026 are aimed at giving consumers who do not need mobile data more flexibility when choosing prepaid recharges.
TRAI wants shorter voice and SMS-only plans
Under the new amendment, telecom service providers must offer voice-and-SMS-only STVs with validity periods corresponding to each validity period of 30 days or less for which they offer bundled Voice, SMS and data STVs.
This means operators will need to expand their voice-and-SMS-only portfolio beyond the longer-validity options that have been available in the market. The requirement applies to telecom operators offering the relevant bundled STVs.
Monthly renewal option also mandatory
TRAI has also specified a monthly-renewable voice-and-SMS-only STV. The validity of this option should be renewable on the same date of every month.
If that date does not exist in a particular month, the renewal date will be the last date of that month. Operators must also offer at least one voice-and-SMS-only STV with a validity longer than the shorter and monthly-renewable options, corresponding to a validity period offered for bundled Voice, SMS and data STVs.
Tariff reduction will be required
The final regulation requires the voice-and-SMS-only STVs to have an “appropriate reduction in tariff” compared with the corresponding bundled STVs.
There is an important difference between the final rule and TRAI’s original proposal. The draft consultation had referred to a “largely proportional reduction” in tariff. However, the final regulation uses the term “appropriate reduction”. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to say that TRAI has mandated a mathematically proportional price cut for every corresponding plan.
The regulator’s approach is intended to ensure that consumers who do not require data are not simply offered the same pricing structure after removing the data component.
Why TRAI introduced the amendment
The move follows TRAI’s observation that voice-and-SMS-only STVs remained limited after the 12th Amendment Regulations, 2024. The available options were concentrated largely around longer validity periods, leaving consumers looking for shorter-duration voice and SMS recharges with fewer choices.
TRAI subsequently released the draft 13th Amendment in April 2026 for stakeholder consultation. The consultation received 1,132 responses, and the regulator held an Open House Discussion on June 15 before finalising the regulations.
Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL will need to review plans
The new framework will require telecom operators to review their existing prepaid portfolios and introduce the required voice-and-SMS-only options.
For consumers, the practical change should be a wider choice of recharges for users who primarily need calling and SMS and do not want to pay for a bundled data allowance. TRAI specifically said the amendment would provide consumers, including low-income users, with more options based on their requirements and financial capacity.
The final regulations were released by TRAI on September 22, 2026. The regulation itself provides for the amendments to come into force 30 days after their publication in the Official Gazette, so the new plans are not necessarily required to appear immediately.
