Telecom regulator TRAI crack down on unauthorised, pesky promotional messages by telemarketers as it issue directions to telecom operators to act swiftly to stop the misuse of headers and message templates.
To stop such misuse and curb unwanted messages, the regulator has direct access service providers (telecom operators) to reverify all register headers and message templates on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform and block all unverified headers and message templates within 30 and 60 days, respectively.
The move is expect to come as a relief to mobile users, annoye by deluge of unauthorise, pesky promotional messages.
Telecom operators have also ask to ensure that temporary headers are deactivate immediately after the set time duration lapses.
TRAI Said :
To curb messages from unauthorise or unregister telemarketers, including telemarketers using telephone numbers, telecom operators have direct to “bar all telemarketers, who are not registered on DLT platform from handling the message template scrubbing and delivery of messages to recipients through Access Providers’ network“.
Telcos will have to “ensure that promotional messages are not transmitted by Unregistered Telemarketers or Telemarketers using telephone numbers (10 digits numbers).”
Telecom operators have instruct to take action against all erring telemarketers as per stipulate regulations and initiate actions as per relevant legal laws.
TRAI Said :
As TRAI has ask all telecom service providers to comply with its directions within 30 days.
TRAI Said :
The move came after the regulator observe that headers and message templates of Principal Entities (PEs) are being misuse by some telemarketers.
Put simply, principal entities, say banks, generate content and rope in telemarketers for customer outreach.
Telecoms would also have to ensure that content variables in message template do not have flexibility to insert undesired contents.
Entities involve in message transmission should be clearly identifiable and tracked, if required, TRAI assert.
D Uday Reddy, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Tanla Platforms, said :
Of nearly 5 million templates register on the DLT at present, nearly 80% are inactive for a period of six months, providing opportunity for infiltrators to misuse the templates.
D Uday Reddy Said :