The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Monday issued the Telecom Consumers Protection (Twelfth Amendment) Regulations 2024, highlighting several new pro-consumer changes in telecom policies, including mandating operators to issue tariff plans with only SMS and voice call benefits.

The move is expected to help around 150 million 2G users and those who have two SIM cards, with one being kept exclusively for voice calls and SMS. This allows users to pay only for the services that they want to use. Currently, 2G users need to buy expensive plans which include data benefits that are of no use to them. This might affect both Airtel and Vi, which offer 2G networks, whereas Jio only offers 4G or 5G networks.

Telcos, on the other hand, are exploring different ways of improving their Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) using bundled plans that include data, calling, SMS, and even OTT benefits.

Similarly, TRAI has also mandated telcos to increase the validity of Special Tariff Vouchers (STV) from 90 days to 365 days to benefit consumers. STV plans are specially designed by the telcos and are cheaper than regular plans and offer varied benefits.

Similarly, the telecom regulatory body has also instructed the operators to have top-up vouchers of various denominations, which should start from at least Rs 10.