For some time, TRAI consumers have been looking strict about the interests. Recently, the strictness of TRAI has been launched by all private telecom companies calling plans. Although there is no change in other plans, some plans have become expensive. At least users have got relief that now they have the option to choose only calling plans.
TRAI has now decided to impose penalty on telecom companies. However, it is not about penalty plans, but about spam calls. According to TRAI, if telecom companies do not block spam calls completely, then a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh can be imposed on them.
Telecom companies are not happy with TRAI’s move and COAI has opposed it. COAI says that such penalty companies should not be imposed. Because companies are already working to block spam calls, but telemarketing should also continue to run together.
Significantly, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India i.e. TRAI is a body of the Government of India which takes care of consumer interests. However, from time to time, TRAI has also been accused that this body is not taking care of the interests of the consumers properly. But this perception has changed for some time.
TRAI has surrendered Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR), 2018 and has some things in which these are provisions.
- Extendate Reporting Window: Customers will now be able to report a spam call within 7 days. Earlier, the time to report was only 3 days. In such a situation, now more people will be able to report spam calls and companies will have to solve them.
- Excellected action Against Anurgestered Senders: Telecom operators will now have to take action on any unarmed telemarketers within five days. Earlier there was a 30 -day timeframe. That is, now telecom companies will have to do this hurry.
- Financial penalty: Telecom companies will have to pay a penalty of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh on the rules. A penalty of Rs 2 lakh has been fixed on first violation, Rs 5 lakh on second violation and Rs 10 lakh on continuous violation.
- Pattern Analysis: Telecom providers will have to unlose the patterns of calls and messages. There is an order to identify potential spammers by focusing on high volume and short duration calls.
- Standardized Message Handers: The messages will have to be categorized with P, S, T and G headers. Here P means promotional, S means service and G means Government.
What will the consumers benefit from TRAI’s move?
- Now users will have more time to report spam calls.
- After this Mendate, now companies will have to solve the complaint of spam calls or messages quickly.
- Due to the penalty, companies will now have to strict more on spam calls and messages, which will benefit users.
- After the provision of the header in the message, it will be easy for the customers to know which are spam messages and which are the real messages.
Why are telecom companies protesting? What is argument
COAI represents all private telecom companies in India and takes care of their interests. Just as TRAI is designed to take care of consumer interests, there is a COAI i.e. Cellular Operators Association.
After this amendment of TRAI, COAI has opposed this on behalf of telecom companies.
- COAI says that this regulation will not affect OTT services. Let us know that WhatsApp, Telegram and other such apps are called OTT services.
- It is also argued that spam calls and messages are also coming through WhatsApp, Telegram and other apps. But this amendment will not affect them. Therefore, TRAI should prepare a comprehensive framework so that they can also be fined in this provision.
- COAI has said that penalty should be installed on targeted telemarcaters and spam originators and not on telecom companies who act as intermadies.
- Due to penalty, the load on telecom companies will increase, as telecom operators have more usersbase and have wide networks.