Draft Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulation, 2026
Why in News?
The Draft Telecom Consumer Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulation, 2026 is in the news because the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released it on April 7, 2026, to mandate more affordable, non-data mobile plans for consumers.
About
- Addressing Gaps: The regulator found that previous mandates (from 2024) were insufficient, as telecom operators offered very few "Voice and SMS-only" plans.
- High Pricing: TRAI observed that current voice-only packs are often priced disproportionately high compared to bundled data plans.
- Public Call for Comments: Stakeholders and the public have been invited to submit written comments by April 28, 2026.
Core Mandate
- Matching Plans: For every unique validity period offered in a bundled pack (Voice + SMS + Data), operators must now provide a corresponding pack exclusively for Voice and SMS.
- Proportional Pricing: These standalone packs must be priced with a largely proportional reduction in tariff, reflecting the removal of data benefits.
Primary Beneficiaries
- Feature Phone Users: Millions who do not use internet services but are recently forced to pay for data-bundled recharges.
- Low-Income Groups: Provides affordable, shorter-duration choices for those with limited budgets.
- Elderly & Rural Consumers: Specifically targets demographics that rely primarily on basic voice calls.
Operational Requirements for Telcos
- Visibility: Service providers must clearly publish and prominently display these voice-only vouchers across all touchpoints (websites, apps, retail outlets, and PoS).
- Transparency: The move aims to prevent "forced procurement" of unwanted bundled services.
- Deadline for Feedback: Comments are to be sent to the Advisor (Financial & Economic Analysis) at TRAI by the end of April 2026.
Regulatory Context
- Evolution: This follows the Twelfth Amendment (2024), which only required operators to offer "at least one" such plan. The 2026 draft makes it mandatory across all validity periods to ensure parity with data-heavy offerings.
Download Pdf
Get in Touch
