The long-awaited clearance for a number series meant exclusively for phones of telemarketers has finally come through but doubts remain on the efficacy of such a move aimed at ending the menace of pesky calls and SMSs.
The
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Friday said it will take four to six weeks to put in place an effective filtering mechanism for unsolicited commercial calls and messages after security agencies and the department of telecommunications (DoT) cleared the '140'
number series for telemarketers . Telecom service providers need to make certain changes in their networks before incorporating the number series. As such, the measure is expected to be formally implemented by the end of next month. "We will be able to implement the new series for telemarketers in six weeks," Trai chairman J.S. Sarma said.
However, there is no clarity on upgrading telephone exchanges for the new series, which will help consumers recognise such calls. DoT secretary R. Chandrashekhar had said early last month that it would take time to upgrade exchanges so that security agencies could intercept communication when needed.
Trai head gets taste of pesky calls Last year, Trai had unveiled recommendations to curb pesky calls and SMSs. Since then, it has missed deadlines for implementing the guidelines four times as there was no exclusive number for telemarketers. Trai and DoT have been under pressure from some telcos to not lay down new rules as huge stakes are involved in the telemarketing business. Indian telcos, which earn more than Rs 350 crore from the telemarketing business, have been pushing for deferring such regulation.
The new rules has also been delayed as security agencies wanted to ensure they could intercept communication. The use of an identifiable series, such as '140' would reportedly impact the numbering system used at present for allocating new connections.
Adding three digits to landline numbers will take the total digits to 13 and BSNL and MTNL would need to install new equipment in exchanges to transmit such numbers on telecom networks. The '140' series will require operators to re-programme their switches to recognise the numbers of telemarketers.
Trai has identified seven categories - banking and financial products, real estate, education, health, consumer goods, automobiles, communication and entertainment, tourism and leisure.
Subscribers can choose the 'Fully Blocked' category, which is akin to the 'Do Not Call Registry', or the 'Partially Blocked' category, under which they would receive SMSs in the categories chosen by them.
Courtesy: Mail Today
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