Mobile recharge plans without data can be cheaper. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is working on this. TRAI has issued a new regulation titled ‘Telecommunication Consumer Protection Rules, 2026’. Its main objective is to seek opinions on ‘Why pay for data if you don’t need it?’ TRAI has sought opinions from all parties. After this, the rules will be finalized.
Currently, companies are offering ‘Call and SMS only’ packs for a limited period of time. As a result, some customers are forced to take expensive data plans. Now TRAI has proposed that companies, for as many days as they are bringing plans with validity of 7, 28, 56 or 84 days, will also bring ‘Voice Call and SMS Only’ (Voice Call and SMS Only) plans for the same period. Since 50%-70% of the cost of mobile plans is on data, the implementation of the new rules will reduce the cost of call and SMS only plans by more than half. For example, a plan of Rs 300 can be found for Rs 100 to Rs 150. Feature phone users and the elderly who do not use data will benefit.
Those who keep a second SIM only for calls will have their expenses reduced. Apart from this, it will also be beneficial for those who have WiFi at home. The final price will be fixed by the telecom company. After the rules are made, the companies will be given time to implement it. This will increase competition among telecom companies and provide affordable options to users. The policy has clarified that consumers were not getting suitable recharge options. For this, the government and the regulator had to intervene.
Now companies are forcing consumers to buy long-term and expensive plans. But after the implementation of the new rules, senior citizens and rural area users will not be unnecessarily burdened financially. TRAI will review the work of the companies after 6 months of the implementation of this rule. TRAI has clarified that call management apps like Truecaller cannot block 1600 and 140 series calls. The 1600 series is available for banks, financial institutions (RBI, SEBI etc.) and government services, so that citizens can identify any calls related to urgent transactions. Similarly, the 140 series is for advertisements of companies. The customer can block it themselves through the DND service.
