India’s telecom regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), has proposed a significant change to prepaid mobile services that could benefit millions of users who rely primarily on voice calls and SMS. On April 7, TRAI released a draft directive requiring telecom operators such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea to introduce voice-and-SMS-only plans for every validity period currently offered with data bundles. These plans must be priced with proportional discounts compared to their data-inclusive counterparts.
This move is designed to address long-standing complaints from India’s estimated 150 million feature phone users, as well as others who deliberately avoid mobile data to save money. While TRAI had previously mandated in 2024 that operators provide voice-only options for long-validity packs, the new proposal extends this requirement to all recharge durations, including shorter-term plans. This ensures that users who prefer basic services are not forced to pay for data they do not use.
The draft regulation emphasizes affordability and consumer choice. By mandating proportional discounts, TRAI aims to prevent telecom companies from pricing voice-only packs at levels that undermine their purpose. For example, if a 28-day data pack costs ₹200, the corresponding voice-only plan would need to be offered at a reduced rate that reflects the absence of data services. This could make prepaid mobile services more inclusive, especially for rural and low-income subscribers who depend on mobile phones primarily for communication rather than internet access.
If approved, the directive will come into effect 30 days after its official notification. TRAI has invited public comments on the proposal until April 28, giving stakeholders—including consumers, telecom operators, and industry experts—an opportunity to weigh in. The regulator’s initiative reflects its broader mission of ensuring fair competition, protecting consumer interests, and bridging the digital divide in India’s fast-evolving telecom sector.
By expanding the scope of voice-only plans, TRAI is not only responding to consumer grievances but also reinforcing the principle that telecom services should remain accessible and affordable for all segments of society. This proposal, if implemented, could reshape the prepaid market and provide much-needed relief to millions who rely on simple, cost-effective mobile connectivity.
