TRAI directs access service providers to take steps to prevent misuse of messaging services
New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today issued directions to take steps to prevent misuse of messaging services and protect users from frauds. Through an order issued today, TRAI has directed all access service providers to ensure the following:
TRAI has mandated access service providers to transfer telemarketing calls from 140 series to online DLT platforms by September 30, 2024.
For better monitoring and control, TRAI has mandated access service providers to transfer telemarketing calls from 140 series to online DLT platforms by September 30, 2024.
From 1 September 2024, all access service providers will be prohibited from airing messages containing URLs, APKs, OTT links or callback numbers that are not listed white by the sender.
In order to increase message traceability, TRAI has directed that from November 1, 2024, it is necessary to trace the trail of all messages from the sender to the recipient. Any message with an unspecified or uneven telemarket chain will be discarded.
TRAI has taken punitive measures for non-compliance to prevent misuse of templates for promotional content. Content templates registered in the wrong category will be blacklisted, and the sender’s service will be suspended for a month due to repeated offences
TRAI has ordered immediate closure of traffic from all headers and content templates of that sender.
To ensure compliance with the regulations, all titles and content templates registered with DLT must comply with the laid down guidelines. In addition, a single content template cannot be linked to multiple headers.
If misuse of a sender’s header or content template is noticed, TRAI has ordered immediate closure of traffic from all headers and content templates of that sender. The traffic will be withdrawn from the sender only after legal action is taken by the sender against such misuse. Besides, delivery-telemarketers are required to identify and report entities responsible for such misuse within two days, otherwise they will face the same consequences.
The stakeholders are advised to mention the instructions available on the TRAI website for accurate writing www.trai.gov.in.
Trai’s initiatives to ensure a transparent and secure messaging ecosystem, protect and protect the interests of consumers have been put forward. read more
