The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has said that the new guidelines framed for telemarketers will be implemented from September 27, 2011, onwards.
Once implemented, consumers who have registered with the National Customer Preference Register (NCPR), would not receive any commercial communications.
To register, consumers can either send an SMS or dial toll free number 1909. Mobile subscribers can also opt for the fully blocked category, in which no commercial call or SMS will be permitted. Besides, users can register for the partially blocked category, whereby one receives an SMS on specific topics.
Telemarketing companies that call or send SMSs to consumers who have registered with the NCPR will have to pay fines ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 0.25 million.
Also, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made it mandatory for all telemarketing companies to use a number series starting with 140.
