New Rules Implemented by TRAI to Combat Unwanted Calls and Messages in India. If you have been troubled by unwanted calls and messages from unknown numbers, there is good news for you.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has taken a major step to combat fraudulent and harassing calls by implementing new rules from May 1, 2023. The new rules will require all telecom companies in India to incorporate AI spam filters into their call and SMS services.
These filters will help identify and block fake and promotional calls and messages from various sources, which are often used by scammers to deceive consumers. The goal is to combat the increasing cases of spam and the nuisance caused by such calls and messages to customers.
Telecom companies, such as Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL, have been mandated to use artificial intelligence (AI) spam filters for their call and SMS services. Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, among the telecom giants, have already agreed to implement the AI filter service.
To address the issue of fake calls and messages, TRAI has asked telecom companies to stop sending promotional calls on 10-digit mobile numbers, which are often used by spammers and fraudsters. The government has also asked telcos to implement a Call ID feature that will help customers identify the caller by showing their photo and name on the mobile phone screen.
Although some telecom companies like Airtel and Jio have expressed privacy concerns, the implementation of AI technology to filter spam will commence on May 1.
In the meantime, if you want to permanently block spam calls, you can activate DND (Do Not Disturb) on your mobile number. TRAI has a special service called the National Customer Preference Register (NCPR), which was previously known as the National Do Not Call Registry (NDNC). It helps people to stop spam calls. You can sign-up for this DND service to avoid all or some telemarketing calls.
Here is how you can activate DND on your mobile number:
Step 1: Open your SMS app and type START.
Step 2: Send this message to 1909.
Step 3: You will receive a list of categories with their codes from your service provider. These categories include banking, hospitality, real estate, education, health, etc.
Step 4: Choose the code for the category that you want to block and reply to the message. For example, if you want to block real estate calls, reply with 7.
Step 5: You will get a confirmation message from your service provider that your request has been received.
Step 6: Wait for 24 hours for the DND service to start working.
By taking these measures, TRAI aims to protect consumers from fraudulent and harassing calls and messages while promoting a better user experience for all.