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Tag: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

  • TRAI warns public against scam calls threatening mobile disconnection

    TRAI warns public against scam calls threatening mobile disconnection

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a public warning over a rise in fraudulent calls and messages from scamsters posing as TRAI officials, falsely claiming users’ mobile connections will be disconnected due to alleged illegal activity.

    “There have been several media reports in the recent times that the consumers are being targeted through telephonic calls or messages by fraudsters posing as TRAI officials threatening disconnection of mobile connection for being involved in illegal activities and for extraction of money,” TRAI noted in an official statement.

    The regulator clarified that TRAI does not contact consumers regarding mobile disconnections, nor has it authorised any third-party agency to do so. Any such calls or messages should be treated as potentially fraudulent and ignored.

    The responsibility for disconnection of mobile numbers whether due to billing issues, KYC non-compliance, or misuse rests solely with the respective Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).

    Citizens are strongly advised not to panic, and to verify any suspicious calls by reaching out directly to their telecom provider’s official customer care.

    To curb cybercrime and financial fraud, the Department of Telecommunications encourages users to report such scam attempts through the Chakshu facility available on the Sanchar Saathi platform.

  • TRAI puts a ‘stop’ to unsolicited calls and messages

    TRAI puts a ‘stop’ to unsolicited calls and messages

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is taking a firm stance on unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) with its amended Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018. In a bid to protect consumers from spam calls and messages, TRAI has introduced a series of tightened regulations aimed at strengthening consumer privacy and improving transparency in the world of telecom communications.

    Since the introduction of the TCCCPR in 2018, the framework has already made headway in fighting spam with its blockchain-based regulatory system. However, with spammers evolving their tactics and adopting new methods, TRAI’s latest regulatory tweaks aim to close loopholes, enhance consumer complaint processes, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms. The newly-amended regulations seek to bolster the fight against spam, ensure quicker action on complaints, and enforce higher accountability for telemarketers.

    The latest amendments by TRAI introduce a streamlined complaint process, allowing consumers to file complaints against spam calls and messages without the need to register their preferences in advance. Additionally, the time window for lodging complaints has been extended from three days to seven days, making it more convenient for users. To ensure faster action, telecom providers must now resolve complaints within five days, a significant reduction from the previous 30-day timeframe. Moreover, the threshold for action has been lowered, requiring just five complaints in 10 days instead of the earlier 10 complaints in seven days, making it easier to clamp down on repeat offenders.

    Strengthening consumer control, telecom operators will now be required to provide a mandatory opt-out option for promotional messages, ensuring customers have a hassle-free way to reject unwanted communications. Additionally, financial disincentives have been introduced for telecom providers found misreporting UCC instances, with escalating penalties for repeat violations, reinforcing strict accountability within the industry.  

    Moreover, TRAI has implemented stringent rules to curb the misuse of telecom resources for telemarketing. This includes banning normal 10-digit numbers for promotional messages and encouraging telemarketers to use dedicated number series (such as the 1600 series for transactional messages). Violators of these regulations now face severe penalties, including suspension of telecom services for up to a year for repeat offenders.

    Additionally, physical verification and biometric authentication for telemarketers and senders will further ensure accountability and traceability in the industry. Telecom providers are also required to implement honeypots to help identify spam calls early, thus preventing widespread misuse.

    As digital communications continue to play an essential role in business and personal interactions, these new measures will go a long way in ensuring a cleaner, safer telecom environment. TRAI’s latest reforms aim to create a balance between consumer protection and the need for legitimate commercial communication, marking a new chapter in India’s telecom regulatory landscape.

  • TRAI issues recommendations for ground-based broadcasting

    TRAI issues recommendations for ground-based broadcasting

    MUMBAI: India has far been a cable and satellite TV country, apart from the single government-owned pubcaster Doordarshan which is the sole terrestrial network. That could likely change if one goes by the recommendations which the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has come up with for ground based broadcasting (GBB). The recommendation are aimed at establishing a regulatory framework for GBBs in India. They focus on defining operational parameters and facilitating the use of terrestrial communication mediums by broadcasters.

    The key highlights of the TRAI recommendations are:

    * Definitions: The authority has clarified key terms such as “broadcaster,” “ground-based broadcasting,” and “terrestrial communication medium” to reflect updated practices in the industry, distinguishing between satellite-based and ground-based broadcasting.
    *  Regulatory Framework: TRAI recommends creating a framework for GBBs that aligns with existing guidelines for satellite broadcasters but excludes satellite-specific regulations. Ground-based broadcasters will not require authorisation from In-Space for frequency assignments but must secure other necessary clearances.
    * Delivery Mechanism: GBBs will provide channels to distribution platform operators (DPOs) using various terrestrial technologies, gaining the flexibility to utilise multiple systems as per their business strategies.
    * . Fee Structure: An annual authorisation fee of Rs seven  lakh per channel for GBBs has been proposed.
    *  Operational Areas: The service area for GBBs will be national, ensuring broad reach across the country.
    * Channel Migration Options: GBBs wishing to switch to or adopt satellite communication for their channels, and satellite broadcasters (SBBs) looking to embrace terrestrial methods, may do so with prior government approval while maintaining existing permission validity.
    * Compliance and Reporting: GBBs must report the primary language and sub-genre of their channels at the time of application, which will be displayed on the Broadcast Seva portal to assist in electronic programming guide (EPG) arrangement.
    * Examination of FAST Channels: TRAI recommends that the MIB assess the compliance of free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels with existing guidelines and develop policies as needed.
     

    These recommendations aim to enhance the operational landscape for broadcasters in India, promoting the effective use of emerging technologies while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
     

  • Indian DTH subscriber base drops further to 59.9 million in June-Sept ’24 quarter

    Indian DTH subscriber base drops further to 59.9 million in June-Sept ’24 quarter

    MUMBAI: Almost every leading TV executive – whether Uday Shankar or Punit Goenka or Gaurav Banerjee – has spoken about his or her belief that television  in India has legs. No doubt they have to speak optimistically. Linear television revenues are what are currently funding their hard-pressed-for-earnings streaming businesses.

    That television is under further duress has become even clearer from the latest Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) quarterly report of telecom performence indicators for the period Jul y 2024 to September 2024.

    The continued drop in DTH  active subscriptions is alarming: the figure for end September 2024 is 59.9 million. The comparative figure for June 2024 was 62.17 million subscribers. In September 2023, there were 64.18 million active subs

    With four DTH operators in operation,  it’s not as if they are doing nothing to retain customers. They have been giving customers the freedom to create their own packs, they have slashed prices for their set top boxes, they have been offering easier payment terms and HD services, they have been doling out value-added services for cheap, and they have started OTT aggregator services,  broadband is being offered by them  at reasonable prices.

    But lo and behold, nada, nothing seems to be halting the slide of consumers dumping their satellite TV dishes.

    A few thoughts to ponder  for DTH operators:  

    When will the law of diminishing returns come into play as subscribers drop off? 

    At what level will the business become unviable? 40 million subs, 30 million, to service the well-spread-out India? 

    When will there be a major shakeup? 

    And what will lead to one or two players falling off the treadmill?

    Already, reports keep popping up that talks are continuing between Tata Play and Airtel for the latter to acquire the former. When and if it does happen, we’ll be down to three DTH operators.

    Also, solutions need to be evolved to stop the slide –   complaining about the gold rush towards DD Free Dish is not the best answer.

    2025 is a new year.

    A chance to relook at the business.

    A chance to see if Tata Play’s white-label-service model can be replicated and monetised by licensing it to other  players  in less developed markets to keep revenues coming in.

    A chance to experiment on how customers can be retained..

    Is customer service of the platinum class a good bait?  

    This has been talked about ad nauseum for quite some time; service can be the big differentiator.

    Convenience  be brought in and, if possible, local programming which can be picked up from the more advanced cable TV MSOs and retransmitted.

    There will come a time when subscribing to a nice plateful of streamers will become too expensive. Already some complaints are being voiced about the OTT bundles in the US. The commonly heard plaint is that they are  as – if not more – expensive than the pay TV bundles

    In India, we don’t have to wait for that to happen – Indian pay TV is cheap – very cheap. More than 400 linear channels are available in India for as low as Rs 300-350  on DTH and cable TV. An OTT aggregator will have to struggle to offer as much content at that price.

    The reality is both free TV and OTTs are here to stay. The question is: is India’s pay TV?

    (Picture of Dishes atop house courtesy Dish TV India) 

  • TRAI website gets a facelift

    TRAI website gets a facelift

    MUMBAI: Industry watchdog the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has got a new look online. It unveiled an upgraded website to broaden its reach to connect with a wider audience on 23 December 2024. 

    In recognition of the growing importance of social media, new sharing features facilitate the dissemination of regulatory information to all stakeholders. The website offers comprehensive information on telecom and broadcasting regulations, policies, laws, statistics and trends in India. These resources are easily accessible to the public, stakeholders, researchers, and international audiences.

    The new website includes the following additional features:

    • Introduction of a new dashboard for telecom & broadcasting sector.
    • Provision of data download for research.
    * A grid view feature, allowing users to view data in a new and interactive format.
    • In addition to sharing via email, users can now also share documents directly through major social media platforms, links for visualisation on Instagram, Youtube, Linkedin, Whatsapp, Facebook, X etc.
    • Online registration for subscription to latest TRAI  releases and updates.
    • Brief profile of the authority.
    • New website is compatible with iOS, Android & various platforms.
    • A blog with a facility for registered users to comment.
    • Provision to publish information about upcoming events.
    • Online registration for participation in open house discussions.
    • Compliance to accessibility features.
    • Tenders and notices
    • Concise and compiled regulations at a single place with amendments mentioned in foot notes.

    The new website, says a TRAI release,  will be hosted in the National Informatics Centre  (NIC) Cloud. The old website will run concurrently for three months after the going live of the new website. 

    A chatbot Tara (Telecom Authority Responsive Advisor) has been introduced to facilitate interactive search.

    Says an industry executive unwilling to be named: “It’s good that TRAI has renewed the look of its website online.  Hopefully, it will also start looking at industry with new eyes and listen to what the pay TV, OTT streamers, TV channels and distribution platform operators need to have healthy industry in which everyone benefits – including the government and the lay consumer.” 

  • TRAI implements new measures to eliminate spam calls and SMS

    TRAI implements new measures to eliminate spam calls and SMS

    New Delhi – In a mission towards curbing the menace of spam calls and SMS, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has implemented a series of robust measures. These initiatives are aimed at safeguarding consumer interests and also ensuring accountability among service providers and telemarketers.

    TRAI’s directive issued on 13 August 2024, stated its no-tolerance policy toward entities engaging in promotional calls and messages that violate regulations. The mandate includes disconnection of telecom resources, blacklisting of violators for up to two years, and a prohibition on new resource allocation during the blacklisting period.

    These decisive actions have already shown promising results. Access providers, acting on TRAI’s directive, have significantly reduced the number of complaints against spam calls. In August 2024, 1.89 lakh complaints were registered. This figure dropped by 13 per cent to 1.63 lakh in September and further declined by 20 per cent to 1.51 lakh in October.

    To ensure transparency and traceability in messaging, TRAI issued a directive on 20 August 2024, requiring a clear trail of all messages from senders to recipients. This measure, set to take effect on 1 November 2024, ensures that accountability is embedded into the messaging ecosystem.

    Recognising the need for a smooth transition, TRAI extended the implementation deadline to 30 November 2024. This extension provides additional time for Principal Entities (PEs) and Telemarketers (TMs) to align with technical and operational requirements. Access providers have swiftly implemented the necessary technical solutions, laying the groundwork for a seamless transition.

    TRAI has actively engaged stakeholders through webinars aimed at raising awareness about these measures. On 12 November 2024, the first webinar, conducted in collaboration with Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., witnessed participation from over 1,000 representatives, including those from entities regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

    The second webinar, held on 19 November 2024, in association with Vodafone Idea Ltd., saw participation from over 800 representatives, including officials from central and state government departments. Building on this momentum, a third webinar is scheduled for 25 November 2024, in partnership with Tata Teleservices Ltd. This event is expected to engage stakeholders from diverse sectors, including consumer affairs, fintech, and technology organisations such as Nasscom and the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE).

    The collaborative efforts of TRAI and access providers have already driven remarkable progress. Over 13,000 Principal Entities have registered their communication chains with access providers, with many more registrations underway. Access providers are also issuing warning notices to entities that have yet to comply, emphasising the urgency of completing these declarations.

    As the 30 November deadline approaches, all principal entities and telemarketers are urged to prioritise compliance. Failure to adhere to the defined telemarketer chain will result in message rejections, reinforcing TRAI’s resolve to uphold consumer rights and regulatory standards.

  • TRAI intensifies crackdown on spam calls & SMS abuse

    TRAI intensifies crackdown on spam calls & SMS abuse

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has taken significant measures to curb the menace of spam calls and prevent the misuse of SMS headers and content templates by unscrupulous elements in forwarding malicious / fraudulent messages. These measures are aimed at safeguarding consumer interests and ensuring a clean and secure messaging ecosystem.

    Key actions taken:

    Stringent measures against spam calls: TRAI issued Directions on 13 August 2024, mandating that any entity found to be making promotional voice calls in violation of regulations would face strict consequences. This includes disconnection of all telecom resources, blacklisting for up to two years, and a ban on new resource allocation during the blacklisting period. In response to these directions, over 800 entities/individuals have been blacklisted, and more than 18 lakh SIP DID/Mobile Numbers/Telecom resources have been disconnected which is a significant step towards cleansing the systems of commercial calls.

    Mandatory URL, APK, and OTT link whitelisting: In compliance with TRAI’s Directions dated 20 August 2024, Access Providers have implemented mandatory whitelisting of URLs, APKs, or OTT links in messages with effect from 1 October 2024. This way, only safe and approved links can get through the SMS, protecting consumers from harmful or fake websites, apps, or other online threats.

    Migration for telemarketing calls to the distributed ledger technology (Blockchain) platform: With effect from 1 October 2024, Telemarketing calls starting with the 140xx numbering series have been migrated to the Distributed Ledger Technology (Blockchain) platform for strict monitoring and control.

    Enhanced message traceability: Access providers have implemented technical solutions to ensure traceability of entities (Senders / Principal Entities) involved in sending a message to recipients. This new system ensures that each person who handles the message, from the sender to the final delivery is tracked. This involves defining Principal Entity (PE)-Telemarketers (TMs) chain through which messages travel before reaching the Access Provider. To provide a transition time for awareness, technical upgrades, and chain declaration, TRAI, vide its Direction dated 28 October 2024, in partial modification of its earlier Direction dated 20 August 2024, has directed access providers to ensure PE-TM chain declaration by all PEs and TMs at the earliest, and the PEs and TMs who default on PE-TM chain binding to be issued a warning by respective Access Providers on daily basis until 30 November 2024. With effect from 1 December 2024, any traffic (messages) where the chain of Telemarketers is not defined or does not match with a predefined chain shall be rejected. 

  • TRAI releases TV, cable TV, DTH data for June 2024 quarter

    TRAI releases TV, cable TV, DTH data for June 2024 quarter

    MUMBAI: Industry watchdog the Telecom Regulatory Authority  of India (TRAI) released its quarterly Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report yesterday  for the quarter ending 30 June 2024 which is compiled by collecting information from service providers. And there are no real surprises as far as broadcasters and DPOs are concerned.

    The report has revealed that 912 satellite channels have been allowed to uplink/downlink/do both by the ministry of information & broadcasting as of 30 June 2024. This compare to 924  private satellite TV channels which had got permission in end March 2024 and 903 in end June 2023.  So, it appears there has been a drop in permitted channels. Of these 912, 902 are available for downlinking in India. 362 of the 902 channels are pay TV channels as of end June 2024, while the rest are free to air. There has been not much of a growth in terms of HD services with the figure hovering around the 103 channel mark for the past many quarters; the number stands at 103 HD channels in end June 2024. The SD channels too have stayed put at the 255-259 mark; with the latest number being 259.

    199 of the SD channels are priced between between less than Rs 1 and Rs 12, while 37 HD channels are priced in that range. 42 SD channels and 54 HD channels are priced at Rs 19 and just two SD channels and five HD channels are priced more than Rs 19. So much for the watchdog’s fears that broadcast networks would price their channels too high.

    The largest genre of pay TV channels is represented by general entertainment channels which is at 115 followed by movies with 72 and news & current affairs which has 65 pay channels.

     

    On the DPO side, TRAI  has reported that 11 MSOs and 1 HITS operator have more than a million subs as of end June 2024. 

    Active DTH subs have expanded to 62.17 million as against 61.97 in end March 2024.  

  • TRAI extends deadline for whitelisting under telecom regulations

    TRAI extends deadline for whitelisting under telecom regulations

    Mumbai- In response to the requests by the Access Providers for additional time, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has granted a one-month extension to access providers to comply with its direction issued on 20 August 2024, regarding the whitelisting of URLs/ APKs/ OTT links.

    The revised direction mandates that all access providers ensure that traffic containing URLs/ APKs/ OTT links, which are not whitelisted, is not pemitted with effect from 1 October 2024. This step aims to curb the misuse of headers and content templates, ensuring a more secure and efficient telecom ecosystem.

    Further, in consideration of the issues brought out by access providers, the revised timeline for implementing call back numbers will be fixed separately.

    TRAI has directed all access providers to furnish to the authority an updated status on action taken within fifteen days and a compliance report within thirty days from date of issue of this direction.

  • TRAI reports 940 mn broadband users & telecom growth surge

    TRAI reports 940 mn broadband users & telecom growth surge

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its latest report on telecom subscription data as of 30 June 2024. The total number of broadband subscribers in India has reached 940.75 million, marking a steady increase with wireless broadband subscribers numbering 898.92 million and wireline broadband subscribers at 41.83 million. This represents a modest growth of 0.60 per cent in the broadband segment over the past month.

    In terms of telephone subscriptions, the country now has 1,205.64 million total subscribers, including both wireless and wireline connections. Urban areas account for 667.13 million of these subscribers, while rural areas contribute 538.51 million. The overall tele-density has seen a slight rise to 85.95 per cent from the previous month’s 85.87 per cent.

    Mobile number portability (MNP) statistics show that 11.84 million requests were recorded in June 2024, bringing the cumulative total since MNP’s introduction to 997.44 million. The highest volume of MNP requests were concentrated in Uttar Pradesh-East and Maharashtra, indicating significant consumer movement within the telecom sector.

    The number of active wireless subscribers, determined by the peak visitor location register (VLR), was 1,061.04 million for June 2024. This indicates that 90.65 per cent of the total wireless subscriber base was actively using their services.

    Among broadband service providers, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd leads with 488.94 million subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel Ltd. with 281.36 million and Vodafone Idea Ltd. with 127.82 million. The top five broadband providers collectively hold a dominant market share of 98.37 per cent.

    The wireline segment has seen a growth of 0.37 million subscribers, bringing the total to 35.11 million and raising the wireline tele-density to 2.50 per cent. Wireless subscribers have increased to 1,170.53 million, with a growth rate of 0.13 per cent for the month.

    In terms of market shares, private access service providers dominate the wireless segment with a market share of 92.51 per cent, while BSNL and MTNL together hold a 7.49 per cent share. In the wireline sector, PSUs account for 26.08 per cent of the market share as of June 2024.