Customers get more control over pesky call menace

In a month from the time the new rules are notified, customers will be also able to set their preference about types of days, time bands on which they would like to receive commercial communications as well preferred modes of communicationcall or SMS. 

Under the new norms, TRAI has asked telecom operators to allow customers to set their preference using mobile app developed by them or the regulator, by sending SMS to 1909, website etc without paying any money for these services.

TRAI has increased the penalty cap on telecom operators by 10 folds to Rs 50 lakh in a month from Rs 5 lakh in previous regulations for violations of the norms.

According to the new norms, Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018, has given 120 days time to telecom operators to ensure that modification made by subscribers around receiving tele-marketing or business calls is updated in 15 minutes and commercial communication is made to him or her as per the modified choice after 24 hours of receipt of request.