{
  "id": 11642146,
  "title": "TRAI tells Airtel, Jio and Vi to clearly display prepaid packs by deadline",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/trai-tells-airtel-jio-and-vi-to-clearly-display-prepaid-packs-by",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-03T07:53:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/trai-in-october-2026-notification-to-airtel-reliance-jio-and-vodafone-idea-clearly-display-these-prepaid-packs-and-special-tariff-vouchers-gives-deadline/articleshow/134654784.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India's Telecom regulator, TRAI, has instructed major mobile service providers Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone-Idea to clearly display prepaid packs and special tariff vouchers on their websites, apps, and physical outlets. This came in a recent directive called the Telecom Consumers Protection (Thirteenth Amendment) Regulations, 2026. TRAI claims it issued these guidelines after receiving consumer complaints and found that telecom operators had not made these plans easily visible on their platforms.\n\nEarlier this year, TRAI mandated that telecom operators provide special tariff vouchers (STVs) for voice calls and SMS at lower rates, without bundling them with data services. These STVs can be used for 30 days or less, offering benefits like international calls at reduced rates or unlimited calls within a plan. TRAI's new regulation focuses on vouchers with a shorter validity period, targeting rural customers and those with lower income.\n\nThe regulator directed the telecom operators to create a separate tab titled \"TRAI-Mandated Packs\" on their websites and apps, visible as the first option in the prepaid recharge section. This tab should list different types of TRAI mandated vouchers, including at least one standard plan voucher, one Special Tariff Voucher, and one combo voucher with a 30-day validity. The STVs should offer reduced tariffs for voice and SMS calls, with validity periods corresponding to 30 days and less, and at least one STV with a validity period longer than the other STVs.\n\nTRAI has given the service providers a deadline of October 1 to fully comply with these new regulations.",
  "summary": "TRAI has issued new guidelines requiring telecom operators to prominently display prepaid plans and special tariff vouchers. Complaints from consumers prompted the regulator to take action against insufficient visibility of these options. All operators must provide at least one plan voucher, special tariff voucher, and combo voucher with thirty days of validity. The compliance deadline for…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}