Trai orders telcos to offer cheaper voice-SMS vouchers for users who do not need data

Telecom subscribers who use their phones mainly for calls and SMS could soon have a cheaper recharge option, with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) directing operators to offer special tariff vouchers without bundled data.

The move follows the Telecom Consumers Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, issued by Trai.

Under the new rules, operators will have to provide special tariff vouchers (STVs) exclusively for voice calls and SMS, with an appropriate reduction in tariff compared with plans that also include data.