The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has started discussions with handset makers, telecom operators as well as platform providers regarding rich communication services (RCS) messaging, which is gaining pace in India, and contributing to increasing online frauds and spam.
The main issue to be deliberated by TRAI is around differentiating between RCS messages and a normal SMS. Currently, a consumer can not differentiate between an SMS and an RCS message as both come in the same Google messaging app of Android smartphones. The RCS messaging does not work in feature phones and iPhones. However, according to Apple, it will start supporting RCS messaging in 2024.
While SMS is regulated and comes under the anti-spam blockchain mechanism of TRAI, an RCS message does not fall under the mandate as it is technically over-the top (OTT) messaging. However, unlike OTT apps like WhatsApp, wherein users download the app and recognise it, RCS comes integrated within the messaging app.
In India, Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) has taken a lead in partnering with Google for RCS messaging.
Furthermore, fraudsters have started sending RCS messages with built-in links which when clicked, lead to financial losses on certain occasions. However, users can not complain or report about such messages to TRAI as they do not fall under the blockchain mechanism implemented by the regulator.
