TRAI convened a meeting of the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR) on August 27, 2024, at its headquarters in New Delhi. The meeting included representatives from IRDAI, PFRDA, RBI, SEBI, MoCA, MeitY, and TRAI, along with special guests from DoT and MHA.
The JCoR, a collaborative platform for regulatory work, focused on addressing spam messages and calls. TRAI Chairman Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti highlighted the need for unified action and proposed several key measures:
- Whitelisting: URLs, APKs, OTT links, and callback numbers must be whitelisted to ensure message traceability.
- Telemarketer Migration: Telemarketers should transition to the 140 series on the DLT platform.
- Telemarketer Chain Declaration: Declare the full chain of telemarketers involved in PE-TM chain binding.
Key Discussion Points:
- URL and Content Whitelisting: Enforce mandatory whitelisting to prevent misuse of message headers and templates, which can obscure the source of fraudulent messages.
- PRI/SIP Channel Use: Address the use of PRI/SIP lines for unsolicited calls. These should be moved to the 140 series, and immediate action is required against spammers using these channels.
- DCA System: Promote the use of the Digital Consent Authentication (DCA) system for messaging and voice calls, even with Do Not Disturb preferences. The technical infrastructure for DCA is ready.
- 160 Series Allocation: Allocate the 160 series exclusively for service and transactional calls. A feasibility review of this allocation, conducted by TRAI and RBI, was discussed.
- Regulator Information Exchange: Enhance information sharing among regulators to better control telecom fraud.
The JCoR’s efforts aim to enhance consumer protection against spam and fraud, contributing to a secure and efficient telecom environment.