Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) opposed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) draft regulation mandating affordable standalone voice and SMS-only plans. The opposition was voiced during an open-house discussion on June 15, 2026. The draft requires operators to offer voice-and SMS-only Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) for every validity period available under bundled plans, priced proportionately lower and displayed prominently to consumers, according to medianama.com.
TRAI’s proposal, part of the Draft Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulation, 2026, aims to expand a 2024 mandate that required operators to offer voice-and SMS-only vouchers. At that time, private operators opposed the move, with only state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) supporting it. TRAI justified the original mandate by citing around 150 million subscribers using basic or feature phones who do not require data. The current draft addresses operators’ limited offerings of such vouchers, which were restricted to long validity periods and lacked proportionate tariff reductions.
The operators argue the mandate is anti-consumer, technically impractical, and inconsistent with TRAI’s policy of tariff forbearance. They contend that the pricing and display requirements could disrupt market dynamics. The 2024 mandate was a significant regulatory intervention in India’s telecom sector, where bundled plans dominate. The expanded draft seeks to ensure more affordable options for users who primarily use voice and SMS services, a segment that remains substantial despite the rise of data-centric plans.
The open-house discussion on June 15, 2026, marks a critical step in the regulatory process. TRAI’s draft regulation reflects ongoing efforts to balance consumer protection with industry viability. The regulator’s next move will be closely watched by stakeholders, as it could reshape tariff structures for millions of feature phone users in India.
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