Telecom Operators Oppose TRAI’s Push For Cheaper Voice And SMS-Only Plans

India’s leading telecom operators like Reliance Jio, Bharat Airtel, and Vodafone Idea have opposed a proposal by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) which seeks to make standalone voice and SMS plans affordable and widely available for users. The proposal is aimed at helping customers who use mobile phones for calling and texting and do not require data services.

What TRAI Has Proposed

TRAI’s draft Telecom Consumer Protection (13th Amendment) Regulations, 2026, have proposed that telecom companies should offer voice-and-SMS-only packages for a validity period which is available in a bundled package of voice, SMS, and data packs. TRAI also wants these plans to be priced proportionately, which is lower than data-inclusive plans. The objective is to make sure that users who do not need internet access are not forced to pay for services that they do not use. The proposal is built upon TRAI’s earlier directive that required telecom operators to offer at least one voice and SMS only voucher. However, TRAI found out that the operators have introduced only a limited number of such plans, which are mostly with a longer validity period.

Why Telecom Companies Are Opposing this

Telecom operators argue that the present telecom ecosystem is built around bundled offerings, where voice-focused services are effectively provided at a very low cost, paired with mobile data. They believe that introducing a plan like this can disrupt the existing tariff structures and affect the revenues that they gather.

As per a report by The Economic Times, a Reliance Jio executive has stated that doing this can potentially be misused for spam calls, unsolicited messages, and fraudulent activities. As per the same report, cheaper standalone packs at a cheaper rate can also become attractive for telemarketers and scammers.

Consumer Groups Support the Proposal

The report reveals that TRAI’s proposal is strongly supported by advocates of consumer rights. It is argued that many users, such as elders, rural consumers, and feature-phone users, are forced to purchase data bundles even when they have little to no use for such services. Consumers should have the freedom to choose plans that match their actual usage patterns. It can also be pointed out that the telecom market has become very data-centric; this leaves non-data users with expensive and limited options. They believe that the new rules would improve affordability and consumer choice.

Who Would Benefit from Voice-Only Plans

The proposed regulations are expected to benefit several users from various categories, such as

• Elderly consumers who primarily use phones for calling purposes

• Rural users with minimal internet usage

• Owners of feature phones

• Low-income consumers who seek cheaper recharge options

• Users who keep a secondary SIM just for calling and SMS purposes.

For such individuals, standalone packs can reduce the recharge costs significantly.

What Happens Next

TRAI has sought feedback from stakeholders before they finalise the regulatory amendment. After reviewing responses from telecom operators, consumers, and industry bodies, TRAI will decide whether to implement the proposed rules or not. The outcome will determine whether millions of users who are solely reliant on calling and texting gain access to more affordable mobile plans.