Aditya DidwaniyaThe telecom regulator wants Jio, Airtel and Vi to launch more plans with only calls and SMS. Users who rarely need mobile data may now pay less and enjoy monthly renewal.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has changed the recharge rules for mobile users. The TRAI new recharge rules will affect customers of Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea. Telecom companies must now offer more plans that include only calls and SMS. These plans must also cost less than similar plans that bundle mobile data.
What Do the New Rules Say?
Operators must launch a voice and SMS only plan for every validity period of 30 days or less. This applies wherever they already sell a bundled plan with calls, SMS and data. For example, a company selling a 28 day plan with data must also offer a 28 day plan without it.
The regulator also wants operators to cut prices by an appropriate amount when data is removed. TRAI did not fix a strict formula for this. Each company will still decide its own final prices under the regulator’s directions.
Who Will Benefit the Most?
TRAI says the move gives users more choice. Low income families, senior citizens and people who mainly use WiFi stand to gain the most. Many of these users pay for mobile data they hardly touch.
Some people also keep a second SIM only for calls. Others use basic phones with no internet at all. The new plans let them pay only for what they actually use.
Monthly Renewal Option Explained
Companies must also offer at least one voice and SMS only plan with monthly renewal. Users can then recharge on the same date every month. That makes tracking the recharge date much easier than counting 28 day cycles.
The difference can add up over a year. Many prepaid plans run for 28 days instead of a full month. So a user needs 13 recharges in 364 days to stay connected. Take a Rs 299 plan with 28 day validity. Thirteen recharges would cost Rs 3,887. The same price with monthly validity would need only 12 recharges, costing Rs 3,588.
Will Existing Plans Change?
Not automatically. TRAI has not asked operators to turn their 28 day plans into 30 day plans. The regulator also does not set mobile tariffs directly. So the new rules do not mean every Jio, Airtel or Vi plan will get cheaper. The real change is more choice for users who do not want data.
How Did TRAI Reach This Decision?
The regulator first noticed a problem after an earlier direction. In December 2024, it told operators to offer at least one voice and SMS only special tariff voucher. Companies did launch such plans. But most of them had long validity periods. That left low income users with few affordable short term options.
To fix this, TRAI released the draft Telecommunications Consumer Protection Thirteenth Amendment Regulations, 2026 on April 7, 2026. It received 1,132 responses from stakeholders. An open house discussion followed on June 15, 2026.
When Will the Rules Start?
TRAI notified the amended rules on September 21. They take effect on October 21, 2026. The exact prices of the new plans will only be clear once Jio, Airtel and Vi announce them. Users who rarely use mobile data should watch for these launches. The final savings will depend on how each company prices its plans.
Akshay Didwaniya
Mayur Mohta
