In a move aimed at protecting mobile users from the growing nuisance of unwanted calls and messages, India’s telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has proposed stricter measures to curb spam communications. Under the proposal, telecom operators could be required to pay additional charges and may also face penalties if a large number of spam or automated promotional calls—commonly known as robocalls—originate from their networks.
According to the regulator, the rapid expansion of digital communication technologies has also led to a sharp rise in spam calls and unsolicited messages. Many companies are increasingly using automated calling systems to send promotional messages to customers, resulting in frequent unwanted calls to mobile users.
The telecom watchdog believes such calls not only inconvenience consumers but can also become a channel for fraud and cyber scams. As a result, the regulator is now planning stricter monitoring and regulatory mechanisms to control such practices.
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Termination charge proposed on spam calls
Under the proposed framework, if promotional or robocalls are made in large volumes from numbers other than the designated 1400 or 1600 series, the concerned telecom operator would be required to pay a termination charge of five paise per minute for those calls.
Currently, domestic voice calls within India do not attract any termination charges. However, the regulator believes introducing such a charge for spam or promotional calls could encourage telecom operators to more actively monitor and control such traffic on their networks.
Penalties for incorrect promotional SMS registration
The regulator has also proposed penalties for companies that register incorrect headers or content templates while sending promotional SMS.
Companies that wish to send promotional messages are required to pre-register message templates and headers under the regulatory framework. If a company sends messages using unregistered templates or misleading headers, it could face punitive action.
Such violations can mislead consumers and may increase the risk of fraudulent communications, making stricter compliance necessary.
Rising consumer complaints
In recent years, complaints related to spam calls and SMS have increased significantly among mobile users. Many consumers report receiving multiple promotional calls or recorded messages throughout the day, causing considerable inconvenience.
In some cases, such calls have also been linked to fraudulent activities, where callers impersonate representatives of banks, insurance firms, or government agencies to obtain personal or financial information from unsuspecting individuals.
Greater accountability for telecom networks
The regulator believes that an effective solution to the spam call problem requires clear accountability at the telecom network level. The proposal aims to increase responsibility among telecom operators for monitoring and preventing spam traffic originating from their networks.
If implemented, telecom companies will have to enforce stricter checks on promotional calls and robocalls routed through their systems.
Experts say that such regulatory measures could significantly reduce the volume of unwanted calls and messages while also strengthening trust and transparency in the country’s digital communication ecosystem.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
