The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulation, 2026, on September 22, 2026, to ensure more affordable and flexible recharge options, particularly for consumers who primarily use voice calls and SMS. The amendment addresses concerns that consumers with limited needs were being disadvantaged by a lack of choice in plan validity.
Addressing a Gap in the Market
TRAI’s consultation, which began with a draft regulation issued on April 7, 2026, identified that consumers who do not use data often faced limited options for shorter-duration recharge packs. Existing plans typically offered quarterly or yearly validity, requiring a significant upfront payment that could be a barrier for low-income users. The regulator observed that voice and SMS-only packs lacked the variety of validity periods available for bundles including data, forcing some consumers to pay for data they didn’t need.
New Regulations and Operator Responses
The new amendment mandates that for every validity period offered for Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) that include voice, SMS, and data, telecom service providers must also offer a corresponding STV exclusively for voice and SMS. This aims to provide parity in choices and ensure consumers aren’t compelled to purchase bundled data if they have no need for it. TRAI also intends that the price of these voice and SMS-only packs be reduced proportionally to the value of the data removed from bundled offerings, to maintain affordability.
India’s major telecom operators—Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJIL – Jio), and Vodafone Idea (Vi)—submitted responses to the draft regulations. Airtel strongly opposed the mandates, arguing for continued tariff flexibility and against micro-managing tariff components. They believe that maintaining pricing freedom is crucial for sustaining investment in 5G, convergence, and future 6G technologies. Jio also raised concerns, citing internal data that indicated a higher proportion of suspected spammers among users of low-value and voice/SMS-only plans. Vodafone Idea argued that even a small amount of bundled data can provide access to essential digital services.
The Rise of Data-First Services
The TRAI consultation paper highlighted the increasing importance of data in India, noting that it is no longer a luxury but a fundamental component of access to digital services. With limited fixed broadband penetration, over 95 percent of rural internet users rely exclusively on mobile networks. The regulator emphasized that mobile networks are now essential infrastructure, comparable to roads and electricity, and that restricting data access could hinder access to government services and economic opportunities.
