TRAI Introduces Innovative Rules for Standalone Voice and SMS Recharge Packages

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) unveiled the “Telecom Consumers Protection (Twelfth Amendment) Regulations, 2024” and the “Telecommunication Tariff (Seventieth Amendment) Order, 2024” on Monday. The updated tariff regulations mandate mobile operators to offer a Special Tariff Voucher (STV), specifically crafted for voice calls and SMS for users who do not engage in data services.

Key Objectives of the Changes

• Consumer Flexibility: This initiative is designed to enable consumers to pay solely for the services they need.
• Targeted Benefits: It especially aims to support vulnerable groups, including the elderly and individuals living in rural regions.
• Extended Validity: The validity period for these vouchers has been extended from 90 days to 365 days.

TRAI has also acknowledged that with the increasing trend of online recharges, the previous colour-coding system for physical vouchers has been abolished. The latest update allows telecom operators to generate vouchers of any denomination, removing the past restriction on denominations of Rs 10 and its multiples for top-up vouchers. However, the regulation still mandates that each Telecom Operator must offer at least one top-up voucher valued at Rs 10.

In July, TRAI initiated a consultation document to review the Telecom Consumer Protection Regulations, 2012 (TCPR). This document tackled important issues, including tariff options, voucher colour coding, validity periods, and voucher denominations, with the aim of balancing the interests of consumers and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).