New Delhi. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has tightened its regulatory framework to curb unsolicited commercial communication, imposing tougher obligations on telemarketers and firms that indulge in spam calls and messages.
Under the updated rules, every telecom service provider will be obliged to employ AI‑driven, machine‑learning filters that can spot suspicious promotional calls and SMSes. The aim is to flag abnormal communication patterns and stop the chronic abuse of telephone numbers.
Five Numbers in Ten Days May Trigger Disconnection
If five or more numbers linked to a single spammer are identified within a ten‑day window, the provider can cut off the connection. The offending entity may also be placed on a blacklist for up to one year, following the prescribed procedural safeguards.
TRAI has also introduced a levy of 5 paise per minute on automated calls, adding a financial deterrent for large‑scale robo‑calling operations.
Misuse of Business Numbers and Message Templates Will Be Policed
Operators must act when a registered business number or a pre‑approved message template is found to be misused. If a telemarketer is held responsible, the sanction can extend to all other numbers associated with that marketer, potentially resulting in a broader blacklist.
Consumers dissatisfied with the outcome of a complaint about unwanted commercial communication have 15 days to lodge an appeal. Appeals can be filed through the DND app, the operator’s own app or portal, or by dialing 1909.
Prior Disclosure Required for Automated Calls
The revised framework also covers auto‑dialers, robocalls and calls that use pre‑recorded or AI‑generated voices. Such calls must include a prior disclosure to the recipient.
TRAI further clarified that call‑management apps cannot blanket‑block or label entire commercial series such as 1600 and 1601 as spam solely based on the number range.
The new measures are designed to boost monitoring of commercial communication and equip telecom operators with stronger tools to identify and act against suspected spam activity.
