TRAI Tightens Grip on Spam Calls Amid Rising Consumer Complaints

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will enhance regulations to curb pesky spam calls, announced Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti at India SatCom 2024. The crackdown includes enforcing technical solutions and proactive measures among service providers and telemarketers. Collaborations among various regulators aim to tackle fraud and scams over calls.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will review and strengthen regulations to curb pesky spam calls, Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti announced on Wednesday.

Addressing the India SatCom 2024 event, Lahoti highlighted that the crackdown on unsolicited calls has gained significant importance for the regulator amid increasing consumer complaints.

'We engaged with service providers on spam calls, and tightening regulations is our next move. We aim to close any existing loopholes,' Lahoti stated.

On Tuesday, TRAI conveyed a firm message to service providers and telemarketers, urging them to take effective measures against bulk voice communications.

The regulator has demanded proactive actions from all stakeholders, especially telcos and delivery telemarketers, to implement technical solutions for traceability and prevent bulk calling with 10-digit numbers.

Lahoti also remarked on the rising instances of fraud and scams over calls, noting that joint efforts with other regulators are in progress to tackle the issue.

'Controlling spam calls is TRAI's responsibility. Addressing fraud and scams will involve law enforcement and financial regulators,' he added.

Lahoti suggested that reviewing the regulations to raise criminal liabilities could serve as a stronger deterrent against spam and scams.