TRAI mandates voice-only plans with shorter validity in India

TL;DR: TRAI mandated telecom operators in India on September 22, 2026 to offer voice-and-SMS-only plans with shorter validity periods, reduced tariffs, a same-date monthly renewal option, and at least one longer-validity option.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) mandated telecom operators on September 22, 2026 to introduce voice-and-SMS-only plans with shorter validity periods and corresponding tariff reductions under the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026.

Under the new rules, operators must offer voice-and-SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) for validity periods of 30 days and less than 30 days where matching voice, SMS, and data plans already exist. Operators must also provide a voice-and-SMS-only STV that renews on the same date each month, or on the last day of the month when that date is unavailable.

TRAI also required operators to offer at least one voice-and-SMS-only STV with a validity period longer than the shorter-duration and monthly options, aligned with existing voice, SMS, and data STV validity periods.

TRAI said it issued the draft amendment for consultation on April 7, 2026, received 1,132 stakeholder responses, and held an Open House Discussion on June 15 before finalising the regulations. The regulator said a 2024 amendment had resulted in limited availability of shorter-duration voice-and-SMS-only plans, affecting low-income users and consumers who do not need bundled data services.