The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has extended the date for implementation of guidelines to curb unsolicited calls and text messages to March 1, 2011. This delay is on account of a change in the allocated number series from 70 to 140 for telemarketers.
In a statement, TRAI has said that on January 31, 2011, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has communicated a fresh numbering series beginning with the prefix 140 instead of the 70 number series. Communicating the same to all the access providers and carrying out the required changes would require time.
In this regard, operators will have to implement several technical changes, such as re-configuration of networks and putting in place filtering solutions to curb unsolicited commercial calls (UCC).
Therefore, the Authority is compelled to change the date of implementation of operationalisation of the telecom commercial communications customer preference regulations 2010 to March 1, 2011, added TRAI. .
Prior to this, TRAI had set January 1, 2011 as the deadline for operators to implement the UCC or telemarketing guidelines. This was, however, extended to January 31.
As per the new order, customer preference registrations would begin from February 10, which would be effective within seven days.
