[India] Trai new rule mandates telcos to issue recharge voucher for only voice, SMS

A good news for Indian Dumbphone users. Those who are using dumbphones without Data or without 4G Data can now recharge their plans with Voice only or SMS only plans. These plans could be as low as ₹10 (~$0.10). It will be a lot more pocket friendly for Indian dumbphone users. Current plans provided mandatory Data/4G Data in the plan bundle and charged more. Users had to buy such plans even if they didn't want Data.

. Indian Telecom regulator Trai on Monday amended tariff rules to mandate mobile service providers to issue a separate plan for voice calls and SMS for customers not using data.

The regulator removed the cap of 90 days on special recharge coupons and extended it to up to 365 days.

"...the service provider shall offer at least one Special Tariff Voucher exclusively for Voice and SMS with validity period not exceeding three hundred and sixty-five days," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said in the Telecom Consumers Protection (Twelfth Amendment) Regulations, 2024.

The regulator has also allowed telecom operators to issue recharge vouchers of any value, but they should also issue a recharge coupon of at least ₹10.