TRAI orders cheaper voice-and-SMS vouchers for consumers

New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) Telecom regulator Trai has mandated telecom operators to issue special tariff vouchers for voice calls and SMS at a lower cost as it will not come bundled with data services, a new regulation said on Tuesday.

As per the Telecom Consumers Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026 issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, telecom operators will have to issue special tariff vouchers (STVs) for voice calls and SMS only similar to the existing one that come bundled with data, voice calls and SMS carrying validity of 30 days or less.

"Provided also that the service provided shall offer special tariff vouchers (STVs) with appropriate reduction in tariff, exclusively for voice and SMS," the regulation said.

An STV works like a booster recharge for prepaid mobile customers, allowing them to avail of extra benefit by paying an additional amount through these vouchers like making international calls at lower rates, adding the benefit of unlimited calls in the existing plan, etc.

While some STVs offering data services are available for a validity of up to 365 days, the new regulation focuses on vouchers with validity of 30 days and less -- the move is expected to provide relief to people in rural areas and customers with low paying capacity.

"The authority is of the view that such a tariff framework would sufficiently address consumer requirements. The amended regulation will provide low income consumers with more options allowing them to recharge according to their requirements and financial capacity," the regulator said.

The new regulation has been issued following Trai's observation that telecom operators. STVs with voice, SMS and data across multiple validity periods, corresponding options exclusively for voice and SMS are not always made available for the same validity.

Due to this, consumers who do not require data are often compelled to purchase bundled packs containing data, leading to avoidable expenditure and limited choice.

The amendment seeks to address this issue by mandating that for every unique validity period offered under special tariff vouchers with voice, SMS and data (whether with or without value added services), the service provider shall also offer a corresponding STV exclusively for voice and SMS.

According to the regulation, the validity of the STV should be the same date of every month or the last date of the month when the voucher has to be renewed.

The regulation mandates telecom operators to provide at least one STV with a validity of more than 30 days corresponding to the validity of the period of STVs being offered for voice, SMS and data.

The new rules will come into effect after 30 days from the date when they get notified in the official gazette.