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New Delhi, 8 April 2026: TRAI has presented a draft of new rules for telecom customers, under which it will now be mandatory for companies to provide cheap plans with only voice and SMS for every validity. This step will be of great economic benefit especially to those users who do not need data and just want calling facility at low cost. Suggestions have been invited from stakeholders in this regard till April 28.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has published the draft of Telecom Consumer Protection (Telecom Consumer Protection) Regulations, 2026. The aim of which is to provide more options and cheaper services to the customers. TRAI had earlier made it mandatory for service providers to provide at least one special tariff voucher for voice and SMS in the Barma reforms announced in 2024. However, the review revealed that companies are offering only limited options.

The authority had received representations from many customers, in which short-term only voice and SMS packs were demanded. Keeping this in mind, a proposal to solve this problem has been made in the new draft. Under the new proposal, telecom companies will have to provide packs containing voice, SMS and data along with separate special tariff vouchers for only voice and SMS for each validity period. The price of these vouchers will be proportionately lower than the existing pack.

TRAI has published this draft on its official website and has sought suggestions and opinions from all stakeholders till 28 April 2026. These suggestions can also be sent through email. Experts believe that with this step, customers will be able to get cheap and flexible plans as per their needs. This will especially provide relief to those people who have less data requirement and use only calling and messaging services.

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