In India, unsolicited marketing calls and spam messages have grown into a major problem, disturbing users and affecting the overall mobile experience. TRAI has been monitoring this situation closely and taking steps to ensure user security and curbing of spam and Unsolicited Commercial Calls (UCC), recently Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018 guidelines. As part of these regulations, there will be necessary changes that may affect outgoing call services for various businesses and call center service providers. It is a big change in the telecom infrastructure of India.

With the growing use of smartphones and mobile services, the prevalence of spam and marketing calls has risen dramatically. Reports show that India consistently ranks among the top countries for unsolicited calls and messages. As this trend continues, TRAI has felt the need to tighten its policies to protect user privacy and reduce intrusive communications. Voice broadcasting or OBD outbound dialing is one of the popular tools used by businesses to deliver marketing and informative messages to their target audience that may fall under UCC (Unsolicited Commercial Calls). In light of this, telecom service providers (TSPs) and service aggregators need to make the necessary changes to comply with these regulations and move forward with this transition. Keep reading our detailed article to understand what these changes are and how they can affect your business operations.

Changes after the Implementation of TCCCPR 2018 Guidelines

User Security and Consent-Based(Opt-in) Communications

TRAI’s primary goal is to safeguard the privacy and preferences of mobile users. Under the TCCCPR, businesses must obtain explicit consent from users before initiating marketing communications. This ensures that users receive calls and messages only from sources they have authorized, reducing interruptions and securing their personal data. For example, each customer must give consent for marketing communications, and businesses are required to maintain records of this consent.

Strict Do-Not-Disturb (DND) Management

A crucial part of the regulation is the enhanced DND mechanism, which allows users to opt-out of marketing calls and messages effectively. The DND user list is now closely monitored and automatically updated to ensure compliance, providing users greater control over who can contact them. TRAI’s new guidelines allow users to opt for a partial or full DND, which helps users select categories from which they are willing to receive communications and block all others, creating a tailored communication experience.

Spam Curbing Through Blockchain Technology

TRAI has implemented a blockchain-based Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to track and verify all commercial communications. This technology helps ensure that only registered entities can send marketing messages, making it difficult for unauthorized marketers to reach users. This system requires businesses and telecom service providers to register with TRAI’s DLT platform. Every message must include headers and templates approved by TRAI, preventing spam from unregistered numbers and ensuring all messages have a legitimate and traceable source.

Strict Penalties for Non-Compliance

To enforce these regulations, TRAI has outlined strict penalties for violators. Telemarketers who violate the rules face fines and potential suspension from telecom networks, ensuring only compliant entities can continue their marketing efforts. The penalties are designed to incentivize businesses to follow the rules, creating a deterrent effect against spam. This whole effort is aimed at controlling spam and improving the mobile experience of users.

How Does This Affect Businesses and Marketers?

The new regulations will require businesses to adapt their marketing strategies to maintain compliance. Here are some adjustments they need to make

Collect Opt-in Consent – Businesses must seek and document explicit customer consent for marketing communications, making it essential to update customer databases and remove users who haven’t opted in.

Improved Transparency and User Trust – By respecting user preferences, businesses may see improved trust and engagement from their target audience. Reducing spam and only delivering relevant messages is likely to result in a better brand perception and more meaningful customer interactions.

Enhanced Voice Communication Tools – Voice calls are still a valuable tool for business communication. However, compliance with TCCCPR will mean adopting tools that track and log call consents and outcomes, allowing for a more transparent approach to voice call marketing.

Conclusion,

In conclusion, we can say that the TCCCPR guidelines underscore TRAI’s commitment to reducing spam and unwanted calls while improving mobile communication quality for Indian mobile phone users. This framework also raises awareness about digital privacy and user control over their personal data, encouraging responsible marketing practices across industries. For businesses, adapting to these changes might initially require additional efforts, but the long-term benefits include a more trustworthy relationship with consumers and compliance with future-ready telecom standards. This will also help TRAI ensure data security and manage telecom infrastructure in a more transparent way. Also, DND management will ensure fewer marketing/spam calls on DND numbers. With TRAI’s TCCCPR regulations in full effect, users can look forward to fewer spam calls, greater privacy, and control over the messages they receive. For businesses, the regulations offer a structured approach to reaching audiences who genuinely want to engage with their services, allowing for more impactful and meaningful communication. This new approach will help businesses save their marketing costs, as they will only connect with people who are actually interested in their products/services. To know more about how you can make sure your business complies with the new guidelines and your telecom resources are properly registered, connect with your vendor or call center service provider and register your business entity with TRAI. For more information about this, connect with go2market at 8595080808 or visit us at www.go2market.in