New Delhi: There is relief news for those customers doing mobile recharge who do not need internet data. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday issued the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulation, 2026. Under the new rules, telecom companies will have to provide a greater number of Special Tariff Vouchers (STV) for voice calls and SMS only. The special thing is that these options will have to be given not only for long term but also for plans with validity of 30 days and less. TRAI says that this will give the customers the facility to choose recharge according to their need and budget.
Why did TRAI need to bring new rules?
TRAI in its review found that separate recharge options for voice and SMS are limited in the market. Among the plans available, there were a large number of long validity options. In such a situation, there were less options especially for those customers who use mobile mainly for calls and SMS. Keeping this problem in mind, the regulator has changed the rules.
What will change for validity of 30 days or less?
The most important part of the new rule is short term recharges. If a telecom company provides STV of voice, SMS and data for a period, then separate STV of voice and SMS will also have to be provided for the same period. This system will be applicable to options with validity of 30 days and less. This means that customers who do not need data will now have less compulsion to choose internet-only or data-bundled plans.
How to get the option to recharge on the same date every month?
TRAI has also made a provision for voice and SMS STV that customers can renew on the same date every month. If that date does not exist in any month, renewal can be done on the last date of the month. This can provide convenience to those customers who recharge their mobile around a certain date every month.
Will long-term voice-only plans also be available?
The new provisions are not limited to a period of only 30 days or less. TRAI has also said that if STV with voice, SMS and data is available for a period, there should also be an option with voice and SMS for the corresponding period. This will also provide long-term options for customers who do not use mobile internet.
How long were the preparations for this change going on?
TRAI had made public the draft of Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulation for this change on 7 April 2026. Suggestions were sought from stakeholders on this. The regulator received a total of 1,132 responses and an open house discussion was also held on June 15. Based on these suggestions and its analysis, TRAI has now issued final rules.
Which customers will directly benefit from this?
The new rules may be especially useful for mobile users who use little or no internet data. Availability of separate voice-SMS option for the elderly, feature phone users or such customers will increase the scope for choosing recharge. However, the actual price and available plans will be decided by the telecom companies. According to TRAI, the objective of the new rules is to provide options to customers according to their needs and financial capacity.
