Do Not Call registry will be operational after 4-6 months

Pesky telemarketing calls and SMSes will continue to bother mobile and landline subscribers in 2011 because service providers have expressed inability to implement the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) by January 1. Operators have express their inability to upgrade system before 4-6 months. However an official has said that some of the recommendations — such as stopping telemarketing calls and SMSes from 9 pm-9 am and setting up a dedicated complaint line for addressing problems related to telemarketing — can be put in place in 1-2 months.

Operators have pointed out that there are several issues related to technical and network upgradation, and TRAI would need 4-6 months for making the “Do Not Call Regulations” system operational. The telecom regulator had asked all service providers to put in place a system that would filter telemarketing calls and issue a separate series (70xxx) for all telemarketing lines. Trai had also put restrictions on SMSes to 100 per day. An official has said that apparently this would delay in implementing the guidelines and it could push the deadline to the end of next year. Trai had come out with a fresh set of recommendations because the earlier 'Do Not Call Registry' system did not make much of a difference. The new regulations said companies registered with DoT need to register themselves again with Trai. The power and function of Trai under Section 11 of the Trai Act 1997 is very clear and does not include licensing or registration functions.