TRAI draft regulation mandates wider voice and SMS only plans

Telecom operators may soon be required to offer voice and SMS-only recharge packs across all validity options, under a draft regulation issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The proposal is aimed at improving access for non-data users and ensuring fair pricing, amid concerns that such consumers are being pushed into bundled plans that include services they do not need, the regulator said in the draft document.

The most significant change is the requirement for telecom companies to match every bundled plan with a corresponding voice and SMS-only option. This means that if a data plan is available for 28, 56 or 84 days, a similar validity pack without data must also be offered. The move is designed to give non-data users the same level of flexibility as others.