TRAI Assures Message Traceability Mandate Will Not Delay Deliveries of Messages and OTPs

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has clarified that its directive on message traceability will not cause delays in message delivery or affect the timely receipt of one-time passwords (OTPs). TRAI addressed concerns on X, stating that reports suggesting OTP delays from December 1 are incorrect. "This is factually incorrect. TRAI has mandated the Access Providers to ensure message traceability. It will not delay delivery of any message," TRAI wrote on X.

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TRAI's Initiatives to Combat Spam

In response to media reports hinting at potential disruptions in OTP-based services like banking and e-commerce, TRAI reiterated its stance. The regulator has introduced several measures to tackle spam calls and messages. On August 20, 2024, TRAI issued a directive requiring all messages from senders to recipients to be traceable by November 1, 2024.

To facilitate this transition, access providers have already implemented necessary technical solutions. However, TRAI extended the deadline for technical upgrades and chain declarations by Principal Entities (PEs) and Telemarketers (TMs) until November 30, 2024. This extension was communicated through a direction issued on October 28, 2024.

TRAI's efforts aim to enhance message traceability without disrupting service delivery. By ensuring that all messages can be traced back to their origin, TRAI seeks to curb spam effectively while maintaining seamless communication for users across telecom networks.