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NEW DELHI: Telecom regulator TRAI carried out a major enforcement drive between July and September 2026 to curb unsolicited commercial calls and messages on mobile phones. During this three-month period, authorities identified nearly 19.9 billion suspected spam calls and SMS messages with the assistance of artificial intelligence. The regulatory action reflects a intensified effort to address unwanted commercial communications reaching mobile users across the country.
Penalties Against Rule Violators and Telemarketers
As part of the enforcement measures taken between July and September 2026, more than 1.10 lakh phone numbers were suspended for 15 days for violating regulatory norms. Authorities took stricter action against persistent offenders, disconnecting 13,777 phone numbers for a period of one year due to repeated violations of the rules.
The crackdown also targeted commercial entities and messaging channels responsible for sending unwanted communications. During the quarter, 374 companies and telemarketers were blacklisted for one year. In addition to blacklisting these entities, authorities blocked 3,725 SMS headers used to transmit commercial messages. These steps were taken following the detection of suspected spam traffic and the review of consumer grievances filed during the three-month window.
Rising Volume of Consumer Complaints
Data from the report shows that a total of 15.29 lakh complaints concerning spam calls and unsolicited commercial messages were received between July and September 2026. After examining the submissions, authorities found that 7.23 lakh of those complaints were actionable.
The findings also highlight a shift in how mobile users report unwanted communications. According to the report, the use of TRAI’s DND app to file complaints against spam calls and messages has increased rapidly. Consumers are increasingly turning to the official application to flag commercial disturbances, contributing to the large volume of grievances recorded and processed during the quarter.
Low Registration in the DND Registry
Despite the high volume of suspected spam and consumer complaints, official figures show that a large majority of mobile users have yet to opt out of commercial communications. Out of a total of 134.9 crore mobile consumers in the country, only 22.44 crore have recorded their preferences in the DND registry. This means that just 16.64 percent of all mobile users have registered to block unsolicited commercial calls and messages.
More than 112 crore mobile consumers across the country have not yet registered their communication preferences. To help users stop unwanted commercial outreach, multiple registration channels remain available. Consumers can record their preferences using the DND app, through the website or mobile application of their respective telecom service provider, or by placing a call or sending an SMS to 1909.
