India issues directions to service providers to combat spam calls and messages

The government has issued new directives to mobile service providers, aiming to enhance user protection against unsolicited commercial communication (UCC). The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mandated that mobile service providers improve their mobile apps and web portals to facilitate easier registration of UCC complaints.

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TRAI’s new regulations require mobile service providers to ensure that options for UCC complaint registration and preference management are prominently accessible on their mobile applications and websites. “Essential details for the registration of complaints should be automatically populated, provided users grant permission to access their call logs and other relevant data,” stated the telecom regulatory body.

Additionally, TRAI has implemented amendments to the performance monitoring report formats (PMRs). Mobile service providers are now required to submit PMRs monthly, replacing the previous quarterly reporting cycle. This change aims to enhance the monitoring and regulation of mobile service performance.

In an earlier initiative this month, TRAI allocated 160 mobile phone series for making transactional and service voice calls for entities regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). This measure is intended to prevent fraud by making it easier to identify legitimate calling entities.

The introduction of the 160 mobile series will help in the easy identification of calls from regulated entities, further safeguarding citizens from fraudulent activities. These comprehensive measures are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure affordable, high-quality telecom services for all citizens while enhancing the overall user experience and security.

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