DoT Asks Trai to Regulate Telemarketers and Crack Down on Spam Calls and Messages

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has taken a big step toward curbing spam calls and messages by deciding to bring telemarketers under regulatory control. This means telemarketers will now be held responsible for the spam they generate, a move aimed at reducing unwanted calls and messages.

DoT has reached out to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), asking for recommendations on how to regulate telemarketers through an official authorization process, according to insiders. Since Trai is already working on the spam issue, it is expected to release a paper and provide recommendations soon.

Currently, telemarketers are not regulated, so they don’t face any penalties for spam. Telcos, on the other hand, are fined for spam on their networks. Telemarketers often switch operators, making it hard for telcos to control the issue. DoT’s plan to regulate telemarketers aims to make them as accountable as telecom operators for spam-related problems, including financial penalties.

At present, telemarketers operate outside regulatory frameworks, but with this new approach, they will be required to follow specific rules, making it easier to hold them accountable for spam and related fraud. Telcos have long pushed for this change, as they are currently penalized for spam but have little control over the telemarketers generating it.