MENACE OF TELEMARKETING: How TRAI hopes to tame pesky callers

In a bid to tackle spam calls and messages, the telecom regulator has proposed to revamp the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018. Jatin Grover takes a look at the draft norms, recent directions to curb pesky calls and SMSes and the apprehensions of telcos

l Review of current norms

EVEN AS THE Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) mandates the ‘140’ series of phone numbers for promotional calls, at the heart of the problem are the spam calls and SMSes from 10-digit mobile numbers which lead to financial frauds. In the proposed regulations, it suggested differential tariffs for SMS and voice calls made beyond a certain number.