TRAI gets stricter on MNP delay, pesky calls

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The telecom watchdog on Friday said that telemarketers would be fined Rs 500 for any unsolicited call or SMS and they might face disconnection after repeated violation of the mandate.

These proposed rules are a part of TRAI draft- 'TelecomCommercial Communication Customer Preference (Tenth Amendment) Regulations, 2012'. The authority has asked the stakeholders to send their comments on consultation paper by August 18, 2012.

The regulator in its proposal suggests that consumers should register their complaint through an SMS to 1909. It also recommends an undertaking by service operators at the time of SIM purchase that they would not facilitate commercial interest.

Meanwhile, the regulator also recommended a penalty of Rs 10,000 on service providers for each unlawful rejection of MNP request by subscribers. It also proposed Rs 5,000 penalty in the cases where telcos breach regulatory timeframe while porting number.

The watchdog is seeking insertion of amendment: the Financial Disincentives for Contravention of the Provisions of the Regulations within the existing MNP guidelines. TRAI, however, seeks comments on proposed regulation from all stakeholders by August 13, 2012.