TRAI directs telecommunications service providers to set up a digital platform for customers to agree to limit advertising calls and messages

To limit the threat of annoying calls and messages, the telecommunications regulator MALE directed service providers to develop a unified digital platform in two months to seek, maintain, and revoke customer consent for promotional calls and messages.

In the initial phase, only subscribers will be able to initiate the application process to consent to receive promotional calls and messages, after that, business units will be able to contact customers to obtain permission to receive promotional messages. advertising messages, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said in a statement on Saturday.

“TRAI has now issued guidance for all access providers to develop and implement a Digital Consent Collection (DCA) facility to create a unified platform and registration process. digital customer consent across all major service providers and organizations,” TRAI said.

Currently, there is no unified system to show customers’ consent to receiving promotional messages.

“Given the amount of work involved, TRAI has allotted a two-month period for all Access Providers to develop those facilities and then roll them out in phases. This direction has been approved. TRAI issued in accordance with the Regulation on customer priority in telecommunications commercial communication, 2018,” TRAI said.

Under the common system, consent is collected and maintained by many key entities such as banks, other financial institutions, insurance companies, trading companies, business organizations, real estate companies , etc

The absence of a unified digital platform makes it impossible for telecom operators to check the authenticity of consent.

“The DCA process will have the facility to seek, maintain, and revoke customer consent, in accordance with the procedures envisaged under the 2018 TCCCP Regulations. Consent data collected will be shared on the Digital Ledger Platform (DLT) for all access providers to review, TRAI said.

Access service providers, including telecom players such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, have been further instructed to use a common shortcode starting with 127 to send messages seeking engagement. Agree.

“The purpose, scope of consent, and the primary entity or brand name will be explicitly mentioned in the consent seeking notice sent via the shortcode,” the statement said.

It indicates that only approved or whitelisted web or app links, callback numbers, etc. are allowed to be used in consent seeking messages.

“Furthermore, access providers will develop an SMS, IVR (interactive voice response), online facility to register customer opt-out of any consent seeking messages. initiated by any major entity,” the statement added.