TRAI has issued a directive on August 20, 2024, mandating all telecom operators to block any SMS traffic containing URLs, Android Package Kit (APK) files, or Over The Top (OTT) links that have not been pre-approved through a whitelisting process.
The new rules are slated to be implemented from October 1, 2024, Atul Kumar Chaudhary, Secretary of TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), said. Leading telecom operators in India include BSNL, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio.
To ensure uninterrupted flow of messages that contain legitimate URLs, TRAI advises registered senders to upload their whitelisted links to the portals of their respective telecom service providers. As of now, more than 3,000 registered senders have complied with the regulation, whitelisting over 70,000 links.
Senders who fail to whitelist their links before the deadline will be restricted from sending any messages containing URLs, APKs, or OTT links. This step is aimed at preventing the spread of unsolicited or harmful messages containing malicious links and ensuring a transparent and secure communication environment for consumers.
TRAI’s directive on blocking unwhitelisted URLs, APKs, and OTT links does not explicitly mention penalties for violations in the initial announcement. However, given TRAI’s past regulatory actions, violators — particularly access providers or senders who fail to comply — are likely to face stringent measures.
TRAI’s initiative is a key part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard mobile users from potential cybersecurity threats, while creating a more reliable and secure messaging ecosystem in India.
