-329.91
 -85.30
 -152.00
 -864.00
 -1,157.00
 -329.91
 -85.30
 -85.30
 -152.00
 -152.00
 -864.00
TRAI has mandated the availability of shorter-duration tariff plans of up to 30 days, with charges proportionate to the validity period | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
Indian users will soon enjoy a wider selection of voice-and-SMS-only tariff plans after the telecom regulator directed operators to introduce more such offerings with validity periods of 30 days and beyond.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mandated the availability of shorter-duration tariff plans of up to 30 days, with charges proportionate to the validity period, under the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. It has also directed operators to offer at least one voice-and-SMS-only plan with a validity exceeding 30 days, with charges aligned to the duration of the pack. Operators must ensure that the validity of these packs can be renewed on the same date every month. If that date does not exist in a particular month, the renewal date shall fall on the last day of that month.
The regulator noted the limited availability of voice-and-SMS-only plans currently offered by telecom service providers, stating that most such packs are concentrated in longer-validity segments, thereby restricting affordable short-duration options for low-income consumers.
Responding to the development, Mahesh Uppal, Director at Com First (India), said, “People with very small budgets deserve this choice. The success of mobile services is often linked to small and micro recharges. Having an option where people can deal with exigencies is not a bad idea. There is no reason why people should be tied to long-term plans, especially since TRAI does not regulate the actual amount. The companies should not be asked to subsidise these plans because that will distort the market.”
Currently, Jio offers an annual and quarterly plans of ₹1,748 and ₹448 respectively. Vodafone Idea offers ₹1,849 annually and ₹470 quarterly plans. Airtel offers ₹1,849 and ₹469 annual and quarterly plans. However, an operator cautioned that shorter-duration plans could aid spammers by making it harder for authorities and telecom companies to identify and track numbers used for unsolicited messages. During an earlier open-house discussion, the company argued that the frequent churn of SIMs under shorter-validity packs could complicate spam detection efforts.
TRAI had first pushed for voice-only plans in 2025. While the regulator said it introduced the new framework after considering 1,132 stakeholder submissions, industry participants told businessline that they remain sceptical about the measure’s success. In January last year, independent telecom expert Parag Kar compared voice-only plans with the closest data-inclusive alternatives and found that the difference in pricing worked out to just 1-4 paise per minute, suggesting limited savings for consumers opting for voice-only packs.
Published on September 22, 2026
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