The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is taking strong steps to reduce spam calls and SMS. With new rules and penalties, TRAI aims to bring more accountability to the telecom industry.
New Rules to Stop Spam
On August 13, 2024, TRAI introduced strict rules to control spam calls and SMS in India. These rules include:
- Cutting off telecom services for violators.
- Blacklisting violators for up to two years.
- Banning the allocation of new telecom resources during the blacklisting period.
Complaints See a Big Drop
These measures have shown positive results. Complaints about unregistered spam senders have reduced:
- August 2024: 1.89 lakh complaints.
- September 2024: 1.63 lakh complaints (13% decrease).
- October 2024: 1.51 lakh complaints (20% decrease from August).
Messages Must Be Traceable
To improve security, TRAI issued another rule on August 20, 2024, making all messages traceable. The rule was initially set to begin on November 1, 2024, but the deadline was extended to November 30, 2024, to give businesses time for technical updates.
Webinars to Spread Awareness
TRAI is organizing webinars to help businesses and regulators understand these changes.
- First webinar: November 12, 2024, with Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. Over 1,000 participants attended.
- Second webinar: November 19, 2024, with Vodafone Idea Ltd. Over 800 attendees participated.
- Upcoming webinar: November 25, 2024, with Tata Teleservices Ltd., inviting many government officials and industry experts.
Registration of Message Chains
More than 13,000 businesses, called Principal Entities, have already registered their message chains with telecom providers. TRAI has warned that unregistered messages will be blocked, and violators must act quickly to comply.
Strong Steps for a Spam-Free Future
With these actions, TRAI is making the telecom sector more transparent and secure while reducing spam communications significantly.