Turn On Dnd; No More Spam

The cost of initiating and maintaining communication via SMS, phone calls, messaging and email has decreased. This has also set the price so low that telecom users are bombarded with unsolicited commercial messages and calls (spam). The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010 and followed it up with 16 Amendments to improve the procedure for telecom users to record their preferences and for Telecom Service Providers.  Registered telemarketers are required to abide by the rules and respect the preferences of subscribers. Any mobile or landline user who wishes to enable DND must call 1909 or send an SMS to 1909. This will be recorded in the central DND database by TRAI. Telemarketers shouldn’t call or SMS this number if it is DND-registered. The TRAI will fine the telemarketer who is breaking the rules. There is also an option to complain about telemarketers’ continued use of unwelcome commercial SMS and Calls. The DND app by TRAI can be used by subscribers to make a complaint. With the DND (Do Not Disturb) register, the TRAI has managed to contain the issue of bothersome calls and unwanted SMS, although the measures have not been successful. Telemarketers continue to contact customers in an unwelcome manner.