The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has taken a firm step to curb unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) by banning the use of standard 10-digit mobile numbers for telemarketing purposes. These amendments, announced on February 12, 2025, under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018, aim to eliminate fraudulent marketing calls while ensuring a transparent system for legitimate businesses.
The move comes in response to growing concerns over deceptive telemarketing practices, which exploit telecom resources. The regulatory changes follow a consultation process initiated on August 28, 2024, where TRAI gathered industry feedback to identify and close loopholes in existing regulations.
Key Highlights of the New TRAI Regulations
No More 10-Digit Numbers for Telemarketing
To increase transparency, TRAI has mandated the use of designated number series for commercial communications:
- The 140 series will continue to be used for promotional calls.
- A new 1600 series will be designated for transactional and service-related calls.
This move aims to prevent telemarketers from masking their identities using regular mobile numbers, which has been a common tactic to bypass consumer filters.
Simplified Spam Reporting and Faster Action
Consumers can now report spam calls and messages more easily, even if they have not pre-registered their communication preferences. The complaint window has been extended from 3 days to 7 days, allowing users more time to flag suspicious activities.
Other key changes include:
- Telecom operators must now resolve complaints within 5 days instead of the previous 30-day limit.
- Stricter penalty thresholds: Instead of requiring 10 complaints in 7 days, action will now be taken with just 5 complaints within 10 days.
- Service providers must prominently display complaint options on mobile apps and websites for user convenience.
Stronger Penalties for Repeat criminals.
To deter persistent violations, TRAI has introduced strict penalties:
- First-time criminal will face a 15-day suspension of outgoing telecom services.
- Repeat criminals will have their telecom resources (including PRI/SIP trunks) disconnected across all service providers for a year, with blacklisting.
- Financial penalties for telecom operators failing to enforce rules, starting at ₹2 lakh for the first violation, ₹5 lakh for the second, and ₹10 lakh for subsequent breaches.
Additionally, telecom providers must sign legally binding agreements with telemarketers to ensure compliance and hold them accountable for violations.
Enhanced Consumer Control & Opt-Out Mechanism
- All promotional messages must now include a mandatory opt-out option, making it easier for consumers to block unwanted communications.
- Standardized message headers will help users distinguish between different types of messages:
- “-P” for Promotional
- “-S” for Service
- “-T” for Transactional
- “-G” for Government Communications
- Telemarketers must wait 90 days before seeking consent again from users who have opted out.
Conclusion
TRAI’s latest amendments mark a significant step in enhancing consumer protection and digital security in India’s telecom sector. By eliminating deceptive telemarketing tactics and introducing strict penalties, these new regulations ensure a safer, spam-free communication experience. With improved reporting mechanisms, better transparency, and stronger enforcement, consumers now have greater control over their telecom interactions.
As these regulations take effect, it will be interesting to see how telecom operators and businesses adapt to ensure compliance while maintaining effective customer outreach.
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