The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has rolled out new regulations to provide prepaid mobile users with more flexible recharge options, including 30-day plans and packages focused solely on voice calls and SMS. These changes are part of the Telecom Consumers Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, which mandate telecom operators like Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea to offer voice-and-SMS-only plans for various periods of up to 30 days.
Under the new rules, monthly plans will now renew on the same date each month, with adjustments made for months that lack a corresponding date by renewing on the last day of that month. This change aims to simplify billing cycles for consumers.
TRAI has also instructed operators to provide at least one extended-duration voice-and-SMS-only plan that aligns with the validity of their longer data-bundled plans. These options cater to customers who primarily use their phones for calls and messages and have minimal need for mobile data, offering them a cost-effective alternative.
The move comes after TRAI’s earlier directives in December 2024, which sought to expand the availability of voice-and-SMS-only plans. The regulator identified that telecom operators had not fully implemented these options across different validity periods, prompting the current amendments.
These new provisions are expected to empower consumers, including senior citizens and those seeking more affordable plans without mobile data, by broadening their choices in the prepaid market.