Trai has introduced new regulations requiring telecom operators to block promotional calls originating from unregistered sources after receiving over 790,000 complaints about spam calls
Telcos to submit status update to Trai in 15 days
Fighting unprecedented incidence of spam calls and texts, Trai begins the process to review the definition of commercial communication
Most banks said they do not send marketing content in messages containing URLs, so the Trai mandate may not cause disruption for their customers
The telecom regulator directs RBI, SEBI, Home Ministry and others to register the content of text messages
Trai has ordered telecom companies to stop transmitting messages containing URLs, OTT links, APK files, or call-back numbers unless they have been whitelisted
Telecom regulator Trai on Friday proposed to bring down broadband connection charges for public data offices, which provide public wifi services, at par with retail users, as the number of public wifi spots in the country is far below the target number envisaged by the government. In the explanatory note of draft Telecommunication Tariff (Seventh Amendment) Order, 2024, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) found that the annual tariff of a 100 mbps of internet leased line tariff are 40-80 times more than 100 mbps of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband connection for retail users. Trai said it is of the view that public data offices (PDOs), specifically the small-scale units like local shops, retailers, generally have low revenue potential and they neither need an ILL connection nor they can afford high backhaul rates which are applicable for large commercial entities. "The authority proposes that for the purpose of providing PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) scheme
Telcos want communication OTTs to be regulated under the same conditions and treatment as them
Trai said that starting September 1, all access service providers are banned from sending messages with URLs, APKs, OTT links, or callback numbers that are not whitelisted by the senders
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday hardened its stance on pesky telemarketers, as it directed telcos to take specific measures to curb misuse of messaging services and protect consumers from fraudulent practices. Continuing its offensive against unsolicited spam calls and messages, TRAI made it clear that from September 1, 2024, all access service providers will be prohibited from transmitting messages containing URLs, OTT links, or call back numbers which are not 'whitelisted' (authorised) by the senders. To enhance message traceability, TRAI has mandated that the trail of all messages from senders to recipients must be traceable from November 1, 2024. Any message with an undefined or mismatched telemarketer chain will be rejected. The latest move assumes significance as TRAI has cracked the whip on unauthorised telemarketers indulging in promotional calls and messages to telecom subscribers. Last week, TRAI directed telcos to disconnect all telecom resourc
Telcos remain opposed to D2M tech, which allows phones to stream live TV without the internet
Such unregistered callers will be blacklisted for up to two years, the statement said, adding that telecom service providers would need to submit updates on action taken on scam callers
Sector regulator TRAI on Tuesday directed telcos to disconnect all telecom resources of unregistered telemarketers found making spam calls, and to blacklist them for up to two years. Further, TRAI has asked telcos to comply immediately with its latest directive and submit regular updates on action taken in this regard on a fortnightly basis. Issuing its directive to telcos, TRAI said this "decisive action" is expected to significantly reduce spam calls and provide relief to consumers. TRAI in a release said it has issued "directives to access providers to disconnect all telecom resources of unregistered senders for making spam calls and to blacklist such senders under the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018" regulations. Towards this, TRAI has mandated all access service providers to stop voice promotional calls whether pre-recorded or computer generated or otherwise from all unregistered senders or telemarketers (UTMs) using bulk connections or .
Internet URLs or APK files which are not whitelisted can't be delivered by texts, TRAI directs
The telcos have submitted details of the hike within the stipulated seven days
Telecom regulator TRAI on Wednesday ruled out any rethink of new service quality norms that require telcos to compensate users for service outages and raise penalties for not meeting benchmarks. TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said that the norms have been issued after a thorough consultation and due consideration. "We have done very long thinking on this process, the norms have been issued after thorough consultation and due consideration and have been issued keeping in view quality of service that customer should be getting, and that service provider should provide," Lahoti said on sidelines of India SatCom 2024 organised by Broadband India Forum (BIF). The TRAI Chief was replying to a question on whether the regulator would rethink its new norms on service quality. Lahoti further said TRAI expects service providers to upgrade their infrastructure so that consumer gets the right quality of service. It is pertinent to mention that telecom operators will have to compensate subscri
Amid consumer complaints about pesky calls, TRAI on Tuesday held a meeting and conveyed a strong message to service providers and their telemarketers to take effective measures to curb bulk communications using voice calls. As part of the crackdown, the regulator has sought proactive action from all the stakeholders specially access service providers (telcos) and their delivery telemarketers. The immediate action sought includes implementing technical solutions for traceability and preventing bulk calling by enterprise customers using 10-digit numbers. "The regulator has conveyed a strong message to the service providers and their telemarketers to come forward and take effective measures to curb bulk communications using voice calls," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said in a release. In view of the consumer complaints about unsolicited commercial calls, TRAI held a meeting on Tuesday with access service providers and their delivery telemarketers to deliberate the .
Telecom regulator Trai's new quality of service norms with stricter provisions have come without much change in challenges that telecom operators face on ground in terms of roll-out, illegal transmitters etc, industry body COAI said on Sunday. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has issued new quality of service rules on Friday, making it mandatory for telecom operators to compensate subscribers in case of service outages for more than 24 hours at a district level. Trai has also increased the penal amount to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 50,000 for failing to meet each quality benchmark under the new rules. The regulator has introduced a graded penalty system of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 2 lakh, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh for different scales of rule violations and submitting false report under revised regulations -- "The Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wirelines and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024". Cellular Operators Association of India ..
Telecom operators will have to compensate subscribers in case of service outages for more than 24 hours at a district level under the new quality of service rules issued by the sector regulator Trai on Friday. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has also increased the penal amount to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 50,000 for failing to meet each quality benchmark under the new rules. The regulator has introduced a graded penalty system of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 2 lakh, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh for different scales of rule violations under revised regulations --"The Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wirelines and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024". The new norms supersede three different regulations -- Quality of Service (QoS) for basic and cellular mobile services, broadband services, and broadband wireless services. In case of a network outage in a district, telecom operators will need to provide a rebate on rent for postpaid customers and .
Telecom firms are only allowed to use the 140 series to make calls to consumers, however, unregistered telemarketers continue to use 10-digit phone numbers, making identification a challenge