TRAI mandates shorter, affordable voice-only plans for low-income users
NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mandated telecom operators to introduce more affordable and flexible voice-and-SMS-only plans, complete with shorter validity periods and corresponding tariff reductions.
This directive, outlined in its Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, aims to provide greater choice and affordability for low-income consumers and users who do not require bundled data services.
The sector watchdog issued the draft amendment for consultation on April 7, 2026. It received 1,132 responses from stakeholders and held an Open House Discussion on June 15 before finalising the regulations.
