Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has significantly intensified its fight against spam and unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) in 2025, issuing more than 7 lakh notices and imposing communication restrictions on over 5.6 lakh entities. The regulator’s latest annual update highlights stronger enforcement, rising consumer participation and wider adoption of its Do Not Disturb (DND) ecosystem.
Over 17 lakh spam complaints via DND app
Consumer engagement in reporting spam surged during the year. TRAI recorded 31.09 lakh UCC complaints across all channels in 2025. Of these, 17.06 lakh complaints were submitted through the DND application, demonstrating growing awareness and participation in spam reporting.
The authority noted that complaints against unregistered telemarketers consistently dominated throughout the year, reinforcing its focus on tackling unauthorized entities operating outside the regulatory framework.
7.31 lakh notices and strict communication bans
TRAI’s enforcement actions against unregistered telemarketers (UTMs) reached new levels in 2025:
7,31,120 notices issued to violators
4,73,075 entities faced one-month communication restrictions
89,936 repeat offenders received six-month communication bans
1,84,482 telecom resources disconnected during the year
Cumulatively, since August 2024, over 21.05 lakh telecom resources have been disconnected, reflecting the regulator’s intensified crackdown on persistent spam networks.
Commenting on the development, Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman of TRAI, said the enforcement efforts are designed to ensure consumers experience measurable improvement in controlling unsolicited commercial communications.
Two-pronged strategy to curb spam calls and messages
TRAI’s anti-spam framework combines regulatory, technological and enforcement measures. Key initiatives include:
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) based registration
AI-driven spam detection systems
Mandatory use of designated number series for telemarketers
Stronger complaint mechanisms
Disconnection of non-compliant telecom resources
The regulator aims to enable legitimate, consent-based business communication while aggressively targeting unauthorized spam activity.
DND ecosystem adoption surges
Adoption of the DND ecosystem grew rapidly in 2025. DND app installations rose 84.43 percent year-on-year, reaching 28.08 lakh cumulative installations, up from 15.22 lakh in 2024. The increase in consumer participation has enabled faster identification of violations and more decisive enforcement.
Strengthening consumer protection in telecom
TRAI reiterated its commitment to protecting consumers, ensuring transparency and strengthening compliance across India’s telecom ecosystem. The authority plans to continue refining the UCC and DND framework in collaboration with industry stakeholders to further reduce spam communications and improve user experience.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH
