TRAI issues strictest guidelines for spam calls so far: 10-digit numbers for telemarketing banned, response time to reported spam taken down to 5 days from 30 and more

India’s telecom regulator, TRAI, is taking bold steps to protect consumers from the daily nuisance of spam calls. In a recent amendment to the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018, major telecom operators such as Airtel, Jio, and Vi are now required to analyze call and SMS patterns in real time to identify and curb spammers.

The new guidelines focus on several key parameters including unusually high call volumes, very short call durations, and a notably low ratio of incoming to outgoing calls. These measures aim to swiftly flag potential spammers before their unwanted messages reach millions of unsuspecting Indians.

Stricter Reporting and Hefty Penalties

Under the revised regulations, telecom operators must report the volume of spam communications on their networks. The initiative also brings along a stricter penalty system: misreporting could result in fines starting at Rs 2 lakh for the first offense, Rs 5 lakh for the second, and up to Rs 10 lakh for subsequent violations. Furthermore, the response time to tackle reported spam has been drastically reduced from 30 days to just 5 days, ensuring faster resolution and protection for users.

Enhanced Transparency and Consumer Control

In a significant move towards transparency, the new rules require that senders and telemarketers undergo thorough verification processes including physical checks, biometric authentication, and unique mobile number linking. To further empower consumers, service providers must now offer an easy opt-out mechanism for promotional communications. Additionally, a clear demarcation has been made between call types: 10-digit phone numbers will not be used for telemarketing calls, and while the 140 series will continue to handle promotional calls, a newly allocated 1600 series is dedicated to transactional and service-related calls.

These steps mark TRAI’s latest efforts to combat the rising tide of spam calls—a problem that affects millions and spans industries from banking to insurance. With these real-time monitoring measures and strict enforcement protocols, TRAI aims to restore a more secure and user-friendly communication ecosystem in India.