The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced a one-month extension for telecommunications operators to comply with a new traceability requirement for commercial messages, including one-time passwords (OTPs). The new deadline is set for December 1. This initiative aims to combat spam and phishing activities. Messages that fail to meet the traceability rules will be blocked starting on this date, instead of the previous deadline of November 1.
Concerns from Major Telecom Operators
Major telecom operators, including Airtel, Vodafone-Idea, and Reliance Jio, expressed concerns about potential disruptions caused by blocking messages that do not comply with the new rules. They highlighted that many telemarketers and businesses, especially banks, may not be adequately prepared for these changes.
Gradual Implementation Process
To alleviate these concerns, TRAI has introduced a phased implementation approach. From now until November 30, operators will issue daily warnings to entities that do not meet the chain declaration requirements. After December 1, messages from these non-compliant entities will be blocked.
Previous Extensions and Ongoing Efforts
This extension marks the second time TRAI has granted additional time to the industry. Previously, the deadline for whitelisting messages containing URLs and over-the-top (OTT) links was pushed to October 1.
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TRAI’s ongoing efforts to reduce spam and enhance security in the telecom sector include blacklisting non-compliant entities, disconnecting mobile numbers, and migrating telemarketing calls to a blockchain-based platform for stricter monitoring.
