Sectoral Regulators Convene to Address Urgent Spam Call Actions

A joint panel of sectoral regulators convened by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) discussed urgent measures to tackle spammers making promotional voice, robo, and pre-recorded calls. The meeting, held on Tuesday, included representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MoCA), and Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).

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The Department of Telecom (DoT) and Home Ministry representatives also participated as special guests. The regulators focused on business entities using cloud-based telephony and fixed-line private exchanges for commercial voice calls, which violate Trai's regulations. These entities are required to migrate to the designated 140 series for promotional calls.

Regulatory Measures Discussed

Trai has mandated that all telecom operators must migrate telemarketing calls starting with the 140 series to an online blockchain-based platform by September 30. This move aims to improve monitoring and control. Additionally, from September 1, telecom operators must block messages containing web links or callback numbers not whitelisted by the senders.

The committee also discussed the misuse of SMS headers and templates for transmitting malicious links using variable parts of messages. Identifying the sender becomes challenging in such cases. Trai has mandated that all transmitted messages from sender to receiver should be traceable from November 1 onwards.

Focus on Information Exchange

During the meeting, emphasis was placed on exchanging information available with various regulators on their platforms for effective fraud control. The committee deliberated on enforcing mandatory whitelisting of URLs, APKs, or call-back numbers within the timelines set by Trai.

A pilot study commissioned by Trai and RBI aimed to determine the technical feasibility of various options. The outcome of this study was discussed during the meeting. The committee also explored using the 160 series for service and transactional calls.

The regulators stressed the need for immediate action against spammers using PRI/SIP/bulk connections for promotional voice calls, robocalls, and pre-recorded calls. This firm action is necessary to curb violations effectively.

The joint committee's discussions highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts among different regulatory bodies to address spam calls comprehensively. By sharing information and resources, they aim to enhance fraud prevention measures across sectors.

The meeting underscored the urgency of migrating business entities making commercial voice calls to the designated 140 series. This step is crucial for better regulation and control over promotional calls.

In conclusion, the joint panel's deliberations reflect a concerted effort to tackle spam calls through stringent regulatory measures and enhanced cooperation among sectoral regulators. These steps are expected to significantly reduce spam call incidents and improve consumer protection.