The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, introducing revised mandates on the availability and validity structures of Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) offered by telecom service providers. The regulatory update focuses on expanding options for voice and SMS services without bundled data.
Background and Regulatory Review
Following the implementation of the Telecom Consumer Protection Regulations (Twelfth Amendment) in 2024, the Authority reviewed prevailing market offerings and observed a limited supply of voice-and-SMS-only vouchers.
The available standalone plans were primarily concentrated in longer validity durations, which reduced flexibility for low-income consumers seeking shorter-duration, lower-cost recharge options.
To evaluate potential adjustments, TRAI published a draft consultation paper on its website on April 7, 2026. The consultation garnered 1,132 responses from various industry stakeholders and members of the public, followed by an open house discussion held on June 15, 2026. After reviewing the feedback and completing internal assessments, the Authority finalized the thirteenth amendment.
Key Mandates of the Thirteenth Amendment
Under the finalized regulations, telecom operators are required to offer voice-and-SMS-only STVs with proportional tariff adjustments across specific validity tiers:
- Short-Term Validities: Providers must offer voice-and-SMS-only vouchers matching every validity duration of 30 days or less currently offered for bundled (voice, SMS, and data) plans.
- Monthly Calendar-Based Renewal: Providers must offer an option renewable on the same date each month, or the final day of the month if that specific date does not occur.
- Longer-Duration Options: Providers must make available at least one voice-and-SMS-only voucher with a validity exceeding the 30-day/monthly threshold, aligned with the validity intervals of their existing bundled plans.
Expected Market Impact
According to TRAI, the updated framework aims to improve consumer choice, particularly for subscribers who do not utilize mobile internet services or who face financial constraints that make bundled or long-tenure recharges impractical. By requiring parity in validity durations between bundled and unbundled offerings, the regulation establishes a structured recharge menu designed to cater to diverse usage patterns and purchasing capacities.