The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced new regulations to combat spam calls and unsolicited commercial communications (UCC). Effective February 12, 2025, these amendments prohibit the use of 10-digit numbers for telemarketing, enhancing consumer protection and ensuring transparent marketing practices.
Why Has TRAI Banned 10-Digit Numbers for Telemarketing?
Telemarketers have been misusing 10-digit mobile numbers to bypass regulatory oversight and deceive consumers. This practice made it difficult to distinguish between genuine personal calls and spam. To address this issue, TRAI now mandates that all telemarketing communications use designated number series:
- 140-series: Reserved for promotional calls
- 1600-series: Allocated for transactional and service-related calls
By implementing this change, TRAI aims to improve transparency and prevent fraud.
Stronger Consumer Protection Measures
The new amendments go beyond banning 10-digit numbers and introduce several consumer-friendly initiatives:
- Simplified Spam Reporting: Consumers can now report spam calls and messages without pre-registering their communication preferences. The complaint window has been extended from three days to seven days.
- Faster Action Against Spam: Telecom operators must act on spam complaints within five days instead of the previous 30-day limit.
- Lower Complaint Thresholds: The number of complaints required to penalize violators has been reduced from 10 in seven days to just five in 10 days.
Stricter Penalties for Violators
To deter habitual offenders, TRAI has introduced severe penalties:
- First-time violators face a 15-day suspension of outgoing telecom services.
- Repeat offenders risk blacklisting and disconnection of telecom resources across all service providers for a year.
- Telecom operators failing to enforce these rules face fines starting at Rs 2 lakh, escalating to Rs 10 lakh for repeat violations.
Empowering Consumers with Greater Control
TRAI has made it easier for consumers to manage unwanted communications:
- All promotional messages must now include a mandatory opt-out option.
- Message headers have been standardized: ‘-P’ for promotional, ‘-S’ for service, ‘-T’ for transactional, and ‘-G’ for government communications.
- Businesses must wait 90 days before re-seeking consent from users who opt out.
Conclusion
With these new regulations, TRAI is taking a firm stand against spam calls and messages, ensuring a more secure and consumer-friendly telecom environment. These measures will significantly reduce unsolicited communications while promoting accountability among service providers and marketers.
