Big decision by TRAI, Jio-Airtel-Vodafone to launch plans without internet from October 21

If you don’t use internet on your phone, but still have to do expensive recharge for data, then there is a very good news for you. TRAI has taken this issue seriously for millions of feature phone users in the country, elderly people and people living in rural areas. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India i.e. TRAI has given strict orders to all telecom companies like Airtel, Jio and Vodafone Idea (Vi). Under this order, from October 21, companies will have to offer plans that only have voice calling and SMS facilities. There will be no data, so customers don’t have to pay unnecessarily for internet.

Highlights of the New Testament

TRAI has taken complete care of customer convenience in its new rules. Companies have been instructed to launch voice-SMS plans with the same validity as the regular data plans they sell with a validity of 30 days or less. Along with this, it will also be mandatory to bring at least one plan without data with long validity. The best thing about this is that these plans will be renewed on the same date every month. For example, if you have recharged on 10th of any month, it will expire on 10th of the next month as well. If that date does not fall in any month (eg 31st), the plan will be renewed on the last day of that month.

How much will the recharge price be reduced?

The biggest question is how much money consumers will save with this new plan. TRAI has not given any fixed formula to the telcos, but has made it clear that the prices should come down reasonably after the removal of data. The regulator has suggested that companies should set prices according to their average revenue per GB (ARPU). According to TRAI’s latest data, in March 2025, telecom companies earned an average of Rs 9.11 per GB of data, which has come down to Rs 7.51 in March 2026. However, the overall average bill of customers has increased from Rs 183 to Rs 196.04 as people are using more data than before.

Why did TRAI have to show strictness?

This rule did not come suddenly. There is a long story behind this. In December 2024, TRAI asked companies to come up with at least one special voucher with 365 days validity that includes calling only. The aim was to help people who don’t want data. But companies ignored this rule. They started the schemes but kept their validity for 80-84 days or 365 days straight. Little plans were missing. Even after removing the above data, there is no significant drop in prices. Only when people strongly protested and complained did the companies reduce the prices slightly. To curb this arbitrariness, TRAI released a draft in April 2026, which was discussed at length with all parties on June 15, 2026.

What are the concerns of telecom companies?

Different opinions have emerged regarding this new rule. Consumer organizations have strongly welcomed the move. He said that forcing data on consumers is wrong. On the other hand, many people also opposed it. He argued that in today’s digital age when services like UPI, banking and telemedicine have become essential, there is no particular demand for plans without internet. Some telecom companies also expressed concern that cheap and short validity calling plans could be used by telemarketers to make spam calls. The companies also said that it would amount to an interference in the freedom of companies if TRAI were to force the prices down. After hearing all this, TRAI has decided that it will not impose any strict rule on price reduction, but companies will have to reduce prices accordingly.