TRAI really does seem to be making an effort to protect Indian telecom subscribers from unwanted spam SMSes and promotional calls, with its latest effort threatening individual subscribers with disconnection and fines.
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TRAI has apparently already issued notices to 1,122 subscribers, and disconnected the services of 111 repeat offenders, and fined 17 telemarketers, following the introduction of the regulation last month. The telemarketing firms have also been forced to use easily identifiable numbers, all starting with ‘140.’
According to the new rule, once a subscriber has been issued a notice, their connection stands to be disconnected on a second violation. Fines can range from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 2,50,000.
TRAI elaborated on the new ruling, in a statement:
“As per the regulations, if unsolicited commercial calls and SMSes are sent from individual numbers, notice will be served to the customer and his number will be disconnected on second violation.”
According to TRAI, registered subscribers who have been receiving unwanted messages or calls can lodge their complaint with the authority by sending an SMS to 1909, or dialling it.