The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reportedly said that it plans to proceed with its recommendation of restricting the number of text messages a user can send per day, except on certain occasions.
Prior to this, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has asked the TRAI to reconsider its recommendation of limiting the number of text messages a user can send to 100 per day per SIM card. According to the industry body, such a regulation may pose a potential challenge to the fundamental rights of the subscriber.
To curb telemarketing calls and text messages, TRAI had asked telecom operators to limit the number of short message services from September 27, 2011. TRAI had said that no access provider shall permit sending more than one hundred SMSs per day per SIM.
As per the recommendations, post-paid users could send 3,000 SMSs per month per SIM. In case a customer wants to use more than the prescribed limit of 100 SMSs a day, the access provider is to obtain an undertaking from such subscribers that the said telephone number shall not be used for sending any commercial communications.
In a written response to the regulator, Rajan S Mathews, director-general, COAI had said, ?There are several instances where SMSs are an important mode of communication. There could be a situation where a customer has exhausted the limit and suddenly some emergency occurs. Due to this artificial restriction, the safety of the subscriber may be jeopardised.?
