TRAI's New Rule to Curb Spam | 30 Aug 2024
Recently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced a mandate requiring telecom firms to block messages containing unregistered Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), over-the-top (OTT) links, Android Application Packages (APKs), or call-back numbers starting from 1st September 2024.
- The new rule, aimed at reducing spam and phishing attempts, requires institutions to register and whitelist (or allowlist - a list of acceptable entities) their numbers to send one-time passwords (OTPs), which may impact banks and services using OTPs for transactional alerts or authentication.
- Telecom companies will now need to verify the content of messages before delivery, enhancing security.
- TRAI has also mandated that telemarketing calls starting with the 140-series (assigned to telemarketers) will have to be migrated to an online DLT (digital ledger technology) platform or on blockchain to enable better monitoring.
- To further curb spam, telecom operators are directed to monitor and disconnect bulk connections used for promotional and spam calls.
- TRAI was established in 1997 by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, to regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier vested in the Central Government. Its headquarters is in New Delhi.
- Its main objective is to provide a fair and transparent policy environment that promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair competition.