End Of Spam Calls? TRAI Set To Bring Stricter Anti-Spam Rules
New Delhi, May 23: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is preparing stricter regulations to tackle spam calls and promotional messages, with new measures expected to roll out in the coming weeks.
TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said the regulator is working on tighter controls, including a fresh consultation framework for telemarketers and stricter monitoring of bulk callers and SMS senders.
Focus On Digital Consent And Spam Tracking
As part of its anti-spam drive, TRAI plans to launch a pilot project to migrate old paper-based customer permissions to a digital Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform. The move is aimed at improving transparency and verification of commercial communication consent.
Consumers will also get the option to opt out of promotional communications if they no longer wish to receive them.
The regulator is coordinating with telecom operators and businesses to ensure smooth migration of legacy consents without disrupting services.
New Number Series For Transactional Calls
TRAI is also considering separating transactional and promotional communications more clearly. Under the proposal:
- 140-series numbers would remain dedicated to promotional calls
- A separate 160-series number range may be introduced for transactional or service-related calls such as banking alerts and insurance notifications
The change is expected to help users identify the nature of incoming calls more easily.
Stricter Action Against Suspected Spammers
A consultation paper released earlier proposed higher tariffs and increased scrutiny for users making excessive calls or sending large volumes of SMS messages daily.
Subscribers making more than 50 calls or sending over 50 SMS messages per day could face additional checks under the proposed framework.
TRAI has also backed enforcement action against telecom operators failing to curb spam-related violations.
No Rollback On Voice-Only Recharge Plans
The regulator clarified that it will not reconsider its rule requiring telecom companies to offer separate voice-and-SMS-only recharge vouchers. According to TRAI, consumers should not be forced to purchase data packs if they only need calling services.
2025 Agenda Includes Satellite Spectrum And Telecom Reforms
Apart from anti-spam measures, TRAI’s broader 2025 agenda includes:
- Recommendations on satellite communication spectrum
- Frameworks for network and broadcasting authorisation
- Revision of fixed-line numbering plans
- Consultations on backhaul and millimeter-wave spectrum
The satellite spectrum issue is particularly significant for telecom players like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Starlink.
