Telecom firms must bar pesky calls, SMSes: TRAI

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Telecom service providers need to take steps to completely eradicate the menace of unsolicited commercial calls and messages, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said Friday.

"We are doing an audit of what the service providers are doing and we have found that some service providers need to tighten their measures," TRAI chairman J.S. Sarma said on the sidelines of a business event here.

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Acknowledging that SMS messages and calls were still finding their way to consumers, Sarma said that though the numbers had come down drastically, even the small percentage should be curbed.

"First of all we must put it in perspective, the number of calls and SMSes have come down drastically. Yes, there are certain people who are receiving it, small percentage may be. But it is necessary to stop this also."

According to TRAI, commercial calls and messages were coming from two origins -- private telephones and outside the country.

"On the internet side we have already taken action, we have told some of the service providers, some of them have already started doing it (taking action) and it is having good effect.

"We are also looking at other measures, which we hope to take during the course of one week and that will bring a lot of relief. A continuous vigil is what is required," Sarma added.

The regulator said it will soon come out with a paper on the exit policy for telecom operators.

The telecom department has sought recommendations from TRAI on the exit policy.

Speaking about consumer protection and redressal framework, Sarma said it planned to come out with a regulation in three to four weeks, "much before that if possible".