Trai calls up telcos for data on calls made below radar

Intensifying its efforts to curb spam, particularly robocalls, the telecom regulator has directed all telecom firms to submit data about unregistered telemarketers based on the complaints they have received from consumers in the April-June quarter. Telecom consumers receive thousands of robocalls every day from unregistered entities or telemarketers. The government has earmarked the 140 series for telemarketers for making promotional calls, but a majority of spam calls comes from the normal 10-digit numbers, making it difficult for consumers to identify.

Officials at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) told ET that consumers have complained about such robocalls, and the authority is going to take action against those who are found to be involved in making those calls. “We have asked for data from the telecom firms. We have also shared some numbers, which have been reported by consumers for making robocalls,” an official said.