Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) ordered telecom providers—Airtel, Jio, and Vi—to introduce mandatory voice-only plans who do not want to use mobile data. TRAI passed this historical order on 24 December 2024 ahead of the new year 2025 and public is quite happy.
This move aims to address long-standing grievances of Indian mobile users ahead of the New Year 2025. So, What’s was the issue? why TRAI ordered telecom operators to launch only Voice-SMS based plans in addition to bundle plans that comes with data benefits. Let’s dive into the details of this significant update and its implications for users across the country.
The Issue: Forced Bundled Plans
For the past few years a number of people in India were complaining to TRAI about the mobile recharge plans that telecom companies were offering to users in bundles that included voice, SMS and data. While these plans work for many smartphone users, but they posed challenges for:
- Dual SIM Users: Those who use 2 SIM cards often need mobile data on only one SIM, and second SIM just to receive OTPs. They are compelled to pay for data services on both.
- 2G Users: Many users, particularly in rural areas or senior citizens who use keypad based featured phone or burner phones, primarily need voice services for communication. However, these private telecom providers force them to buy bundled 4G and 5G plans which they even don’t use.
This practice led to unnecessary mobile expenses and frustration among 2G and dual SIM users who simply wanted affordable voice-sms based plans to keep their SIMs active and make voice calls.
This also raise a genuine question why a 2g mobile user needs a 4g or 5g budled plan? The phone is 2G (keypad phone), you as telecom provider selling bundled 4G or 5G plans to increase revenue – this doesn’t make any sense and hence TRAI jumped into this matter and ordered all telecom providers to also launch a voice based plans for those who only need voice only pack without data.
TRAI’s Directive: Affordable Voice Plans
Before 2025, There was no such pack that only offer Voice-SMS services to 2G or dual SIM mobile users. The telecom companies know very well that these days people use dual SIM phones for banking purpose to receive OTP. They aware of that, the users have to keep their SIM card active and they took advantage of this loop hole to increase monthy ARPU by not launching any special voice-sms based plan. Due to this, even those users who were not interested in buying a data plan had to buy it and this continued till December 2024…!
But now TRAI recognized the unfairness of this system (Cheap tricks to rob people), and issued a notice requiring telecom companies to launch tariff plans without data bundling (a voice-only or Voice-SMS only pack):
- Introduce Voice-Only Plans: These plans will cater to users who need voice and SMS services without data benefits. This is especially beneficial for 2G users and those with minimal internet requirements or no data requirement.
- Launch ₹10 Recharge Vouchers: Telecom providers must also introduce small recharge vouchers starting at ₹10, allowing users to recharge offline with ease. These recharge vouchers will be available in denominations of ₹10, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200, ₹500 and beyond.
- Extend Plan Validity: The validity of these low-cost voice based plans will now be 365 days, compared to the previous 90-day validity, reducing the hassle of frequent recharges.
This move gives some relief to mobile users….
- They don’t have to buy expensive bundled data plans, they can now buy low cost voice plan and keep sim card active.
- The 2g users who live in villages or some senior citizens who use only keypad 2g mobile phones will get benefit from this as they need mobile only for communication not for internet.
The new only Voice based plans (Without Data) will be launched soon in 2025 by Airtel, VI, and Jio.
This way those who need bundled data plane like (Voice + SMS + Data), they can buy bundled plan, while others can buy simple Voice based or Voice + SMS plan and save money.
Public Reaction
The initiative has been widely praised by mobile users across the country. Many have taken to social media to express their gratitude towards TRAI for addressing this long-standing issue.
Finally, senior citizens and rural users like my parents or grand-parents can enjoy affordable plans tailored to their needs,” shared a user on X.
A million of other dual-sim users also welcome this initiative and praised TRAI. The move will help consumers to pay for services which they generally use and this way they can save their money.
Final Words
According to TRAI, data from telecom operators revealed that around 150 million subscribers in India still rely on feature phones, underscoring the need for non-data-specific recharge options
Now after implementation of new tariff plans in 2025, 2g users or senior citizens can opt for low cost non-data plans and save money on yearly pack. The changes also extend the validity period to 365 days instead of the previous 90 days.
As an Indian mobile user, this would be very beneficial and now you don’t have to pay more just to keep your SIM active or to receive OTP for transactions. You can pay less and get basic services!
What do you think about TRAI new directive? Will it bring the relief you’ve been waiting for? Share your thoughts in the comments below and spread the word to your friends and family through social media and messaging apps.
