The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today announced that, in the last two weeks, Access Providers have blacklisted over 50 entities and disconnected more than 275,000 SIP, DID, mobile numbers, and other telecom resources under the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR-2018).
Surge in Spam Calls and TRAI’s Response
TRAI reported a surge in spam calls, with over 7,90,000 complaints against Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs) in the first half of 2024.
In response, TRAI issued strict directives on August 13, 2024, mandating that Access Providers stop promotional voice calls from unregistered senders using SIP, PRI, or other telecom resources, with penalties for misuse including up to two years of disconnection and blacklisting.
Proposed Amendments to Anti-Spam Regulations
Additionally, TRAI has proposed amendments to its anti-spam regulations in a consultation paper issued on August 28, 2024. These amendments include a mandatory tariff for calls and texts from ten-digit mobile numbers exceeding a daily limit, along with stronger financial penalties and updated regulations for senders and telemarketers.
Joint Committee Meeting and New Prohibitions
This consultation follows a recent joint committee meeting on August 27, 2024, led by TRAI and involving representatives from the Reserve Bank of India, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and the Department of Telecommunications.
The committee discussed the rising issue of spam and fraudulent communications and has prohibited telecom providers from sending messages with URLs, APKs, OTT links, or unapproved callback numbers.
TRAI’s Commitment to Reducing Spam
TRAI believes these actions will significantly reduce spam calls and provide relief to consumers, urging all stakeholders to comply with the new directives to create a cleaner telecom environment.