The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued the “Telecom Consumers Protection (Twelfth Amendment) Regulations, 2024" (08 of 2024). The regulatory body has conducted widespread surveys and consultations with TSPs, Consumer bodies, and individuals in the process of formulating an opinion over vouchers, validity, and color-coding.

Separate voice and SMS tariffs 

Upon receiving and reviewing the stakeholders' views, the regulatory body has noted a stark difference between Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and consumer organizations/individuals regarding mandating Voice and SMS-only vouchers. 

Interestingly, the TSPs except for BSNL have opposed separate Voice and SMS-only packs, while consumer organizations and other individuals have favored these types of vouchers. The Telcos opposing the idea of separate vouchers have advocated that separate voice & SMS vouchers would reverse data inclusion as it is critical for consumers today (like online re-charges, UPI, etc) and in line with initiatives by the Government like the Digital India program. 

Those in favor advocated convenience for the elderly, people having two SIM cards, families with broadband, etc benefits and target markets to make a solid point for separate Voice and SMS vouchers.

TRAI’s Mandate: Considering the perspectives of stakeholders and aligning with international best practices, the Authority has concluded that a separate STV (Special Tariff Voucher) for Voice and SMS, in addition to the existing Data-only STV and bundled offers, should be mandated.

Read more reports by TRAI at:  Portability requests rise by 13.45 million in October 2024 reports TRAI

Validity of Vouchers

Taking into consideration the opinions of the stakeholders and organization believes that in syne with the validity of Data only packs, the cap on the validity of STV and CV be extended from the present ninety (90) days to three hundred and sixty-five (365) days. It is to be noted that increasing the cap on validity is in no way prohibiting service providers from offering smaller validity packs. 

This can prove to be a highly beneficial piece of regulation for consumers as it will relieve them of the hassles of recharging, again and again

Denomination of Vouchers 

In light of the opinions and reviews received, the Authority believes that the restriction of reserving the denomination of ₹10/- and its multiples exclusively for top-up vouchers should be removed. Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) may be permitted to offer vouchers in any denomination of their choice, while ensuring compliance with the mandate of providing at least one top-up voucher with a denomination of ₹10/-, as required by the Telecommunication Tariff Order (TTO) (50th Amendment) Order, 2012.

Apart from these regulations, the regulatory body has done away with the requirement of color coding the vouchers. The release by the regulatory body said, “ Colour coding of vouchers as it exists in the physical form be done away with given the prominence of online recharges."  

Reda about TRAI's latest recommendation for assigning spectrum to Railways at: TRAI releases recommendations on assigning additional spectrum to Indian Railways