Muktesh Narula’s Post

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 13th August 2024 issued Directives to Access Providers to disconnect all telecom resources of unregistered Senders for making spam calls and to blacklist such Senders under Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018. 1) In a major step to curb the increasing number of spam calls, 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 Session Initiating Protocol (SIP)/Primary Rate Interface (PRI) or other telecom resources, as per following Directions: a) all promotional voice calls from UTMs using Telecom Resources (SIP/ PRI/ other telecom resources) shall be stopped immediately; b)  if any UTM is found to be misusing its Telecom Resources (SIP/ PRI/ other telecom resources) for making commercial voice calls in violation of the regulations resulting into consumer complaints against any one or more number of resource indicators allocated to the Sender: i)  all the telecom resources of such Sender shall be disconnected by the Originating Access Provider (OAP) for a period up to 2 years as per the provisions of the regulation 25 of the regulations;  ii) such Sender shall be blacklisted by the GAP for a period up to 2 years as per the provisions of the regulations; iii)  information regarding blacklisting of the Sender shall be shared by the GAP with all other Access Providers on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform, within 24 hours, who will, in turn, disconnect all the telecom resources given by them to that Sender within the next 24 hours; iv) no new telecom resources shall be allocated to such Sender by any Access Provider during the period of blacklisting as provided for in the regulations; c)  all UTMs using SIP/ PRI/ other telecom resources to make commercial voice calls to the citizen shall be migrated to the DLT platform within 1 month of the issue of this Direction and submit compliance report within 7 days thereafter. 2) All Access Providers have been directed to comply with these directives and submit regular updates on the actions taken on the 1st and 16th of every month. #trai #telecom #spamcalls #marketing

In continuation to its initiative to curb the menace of spam calls and prevent the misuse of SMS headers and content templates, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) has recently issued directives keeping in mind the need of the hour for enhanced traceability and compliance in this sector. These guidelines are designed to ensure that the messaging system remains secure, transparent, and fully compliant with regulatory standards. To facilitate this, TRAI has instructed access providers to ensure that all Principal Entities (PEs) and Telemarketers (TMs) complete the PE-TM chain binding as soon as possible, to prevent disruptions in the message delivery. This process shall help ensure that messages can be tracked properly across the network, making the system more secure and transparent. To help every Principal Entities and Telemarketers to complete the PE-TM chain binding, Access Providers will have to run awareness campaigns such as webinars, emails, and other communications to explain how to complete the binding process. If any PEs or TMs don't complete the process, they will receive daily warnings. Additionally, Access Providers are required to send daily reports to TRAI, updating them on the progress of the binding process, until the deadline of November 30 2024. After December 1 2024, any messages that are not properly linked in the PE-TM chain will be rejected, which means that they won’t be delivered to the end customer.  To conclude, through these guidelines TRAI wants to ensure that all PEs and TMs complete the PE-TM chain binding, with Access Providers helping them to follow the process. From December 1, 2024, only compliant messages will be transmitted, ensuring security and transparency. #Telemarketing #SpamMessages #PETMchainbinding #TSPs #AccessProviders #PrincipalEntities #Telemarketers #MessageTraceability #TelecomCompliance #TRAI #DOT

On August 6, 2024, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) announced that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) held a meeting with access service providers and their delivery telemarketers to deliberate the action on spam. The following issues were discussed during the meeting: instances of misuse of headers and content templates without the knowledge of entities; steps taken by access service providers and their delivery telemarketers to identify and trace the entities responsible for sending such messages and to take corrective measures to prevent such cases; and control of promo calls whether robotic calls, auto-dialler calls, or pre-recorded calls, and migration of all such enterprise business customers on the distributed ledger technology platform for sending bulk communication in compliance with TRAI regulations. #telemarketingrestrictions #directmarketing #unsolicitedcalls https://lnkd.in/eqhJpU_Y

TRAI's recent mandate for telecom companies brings enhanced transparency by providing network availability details, aiding consumers in making informed decisions. Tighter regulations to combat spam calls, including blocking unregistered telemarketers and contemplating higher tariffs for excessive calls, are geared towards enhancing user experience. The effectiveness of these measures lies in their seamless implementation without impacting legitimate users. From a critical standpoint, challenges like number masking and cloning could potentially perpetuate spam by circumventing conventional blocking methods. https://lnkd.in/gU_hYZCn

Today (August 20), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued crucial directives to Access Service Providers aimed at curbing the misuse of messaging services and enhancing consumer protection. Key Points: - Mandatory Migration to DLT Platform: By September 30, 2024, all telemarketing calls starting with the 140 series must migrate to the online Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform for improved monitoring. - Restriction on Non-Whitelisted Content: Starting September 1, 2024, messages containing URLs, APKs, OTT links, or callback numbers that are not whitelisted will be prohibited. - Enhanced Message Traceability: From November 1, 2024, all messages must be traceable from sender to recipient, with any undefined or mismatched telemarketer chains resulting in message rejection. - Punitive Measures for Non-Compliance: TRAI will enforce penalties for misuse of content templates, including blacklisting incorrect registrations and suspending services for repeated offenses. - Immediate Suspension for Misuse: In cases of misuse, all headers and content templates from the offending sender will be suspended immediately until legal action is taken. These measures reinforce TRAI's commitment to maintaining a clean and secure messaging ecosystem, ensuring consumer interests are safeguarded. For more updates on telecommunications regulations, follow Global Regulatory Insights - https://lnkd.in/gZmkUPim #Telecom #TRAI #MessagingServices #ConsumerProtection #India #GRI

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) has announced a one-month extension to December 1, 2024 for the implementation of the traceability mandate concerning commercial messages, including one-time passwords (OTPs). This decision comes in response to warnings from telecom operators about significant disruptions that could occur if the original deadline of November 1, 2024 was enforced. Many telemarketers and business entities, such as banks, are reportedly not yet technically equipped to comply with the new rules. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/gRMXWZXV #TRAI #TelecomRegulation #TraceabilityMandate #OTPSecurity #TelecomUpdates #TelecomCompliance #SpamControl #DLTPlatform #TelecomSecurity #TechPolicy #IndiaTelecom #DigitalRegulation #TRAIUpdates #TelecomOperators #SecureCommunication #TelecomStandards

TRAI has instructed telecom operators to take several measures against spam call offenders, including disconnecting their services, blacklisting the offending entities, and reinforcing regulations to reduce spam calls. In New Zealand, where regulatory bodies also focus on consumer protection, how can similar measures be implemented to combat spam and unwanted calls? What steps can telecom operators and regulators take to effectively address this issue and enhance customer experience?

New TRAI’s rules hitting hard for Indian Telcos‼️ TRAI’s Tough Stance : New Rules on the Horizon - Compensation Clause: Telcos may need to extend the validity of plans for days lost due to outages if they exceed 24 hours. - Penalties: Non-compliance could result in fines up to ₹10 lakhs. 🏛️ Blame Game: Telcos vs. Government - Right of Way (RoW) Issues: Local authorities often block telcos from installing necessary equipment, stalling 5G deployment. - Equipment Theft: The rise in thefts of telecom gear has added to the telcos’ woes, with a staggering ₹800 crore in losses. Why TRAI’s have come up with new rules❓ 🔹A National Outage That Hit Hard🔹 - Connectivity Woes: In June users struggled with dropped calls, missed messages, and the frustration of being offline. - Business Impact: Cloud-based apps like Microsoft Office and Salesforce were affected, with unplanned downtime potentially costing enterprises up to ₹1.2 lakhs per minute. 📉 The Big Picture: A Broken System? Telcos argue that without government and local authorities' cooperation, it’s tough to improve their services. And with the ongoing tussle between central and local governments, the road to better connectivity remains bumpy. What are your views on this issue….. #telecom #network #jio #government #users

COAI Anticipates Financial Strain on Telecom Industry from TRAI's New Service Quality Norms The new Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) quality of services (QoS) regulations, according to the Cellular carriers Association of India (COAI) will put more financial strain on telecom carriers and raise compliance costs without improving customer outcomes. News: https://qrcd.org/6Dj1 Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India - COAI Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) #TelecomIndustry #TelecomOperators #NetworkPerformance #InformedDecisions #QoSPerformance

India's Department of Telecom orders mobile operators to suspend USSD-based call forwarding The Department of Telecommunications ( DOT ), has ordered telecom operators to deactivate #USSD-based call forwarding with effect from April 15. The order has been issued to check frauds and online crimes that are operated through mobile phones. In an order dated March 28, the DoT said that it has come to its notice that USSD based #callforwarding facility, for unconditional call forwarding services, is being misused for some unwarranted activities. "In this regard, it has been decided by the competent authority that all licensees shall discontinue the existing USSD-based call forwarding services with effect from April 15, 2024, till further notice. "All existing subscribers who have activated USSD-based call forwarding service may be asked to reactivate call forwarding services through alternative methods to ensure that such services are not activated without their notice," the order said. https://lnkd.in/gTdpNi2j