Introduction
On December 23, 2024, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued the 12th Amendment to the Telecom Consumer Protection Regulations (08 of 2024). This amendment directed telecom service providers to offer voice and SMS-only packs as an option, aimed at benefiting millions of feature phone users across the country. These users, unable to utilize data due to device limitations, have often found current bundled plans unsuitable. Despite TRAI’s intent to address this digital divide, telecom service providers strongly opposed the proposal during the consultation process. In this note, we will explore the challenges operators are likely to face in complying with TRAI’s directive. Additionally, we will analyze who stands to benefit, under what conditions, and by how much, providing a holistic view of the regulation’s potential impact.
The Structure of Existing Plans
With the entry of Reliance Jio (RJIO) into the telecom market, the industry has undergone a significant shift. Telecom players have largely abandoned traditional voice plans and now predominantly offer data packs that include unlimited calling as a bundled feature. This transition aligns with the technological evolution of 4G and 5G networks, where even voice calls are transmitted as data packets.
