TRAI mandates AI-based detection, introduces ₹0.05 charge on robocalls to tackle spam calls

TRAI strengthens anti-spam framework with AI-based detection

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has mandated telecom operators to deploy AI and machine learning systems to identify and combat spam calls across India's telecommunications networks1

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. Under the third amendment to the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR, 2018), telecom operators must now detect suspected spam calls using AI-based detection technologies and share spam intelligence with other operators to create a coordinated defense against unsolicited commercial communication1

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. These AI and machine learning systems will identify customer-line numbers with a high probability of being used for spam, with intelligence shared across networks to track suspicious activity3

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New TRAI rules introduce termination charge on automated robocalls

TRAI has introduced a termination charge of ₹0.05 per minute for application-to-person (A2P) calls or automated robocalls used to make bulk calls to users1

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. Regular commercial calls remain exempt from these charges. A2P calls are defined as voice calls initiated by applications, software systems, or automated platforms without direct human dialing, including autodialing, robocalls, and pre-recorded or artificial voice calls2

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. Entities using A2P calls must pre-declare such use with telecom service providers along with the numbers to be used1

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. Businesses making A2P calls without this declaration will have their calls treated as unsolicited commercial communication, with appropriate enforcement action taken3

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Graded enforcement actions against spam violators

When five or more numbers associated with a sender are flagged within 10 days, telecom operators must initiate graded actions including KYC re-verification, physical verification, outgoing service barring, and disconnection in cases of repeated violations1

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. The new TRAI rules also set out an additional complaint-based trigger where three or more unique complaints within 10 days, combined with AI and machine learning flagging by telecom operators, enable earlier action against suspected spammers2

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. TRAI has also tightened rules around misuse of headers and content templates, requiring operators to suspend misused headers or templates within six hours after becoming aware of the issue3

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Consumer appeals mechanism and call management app restrictions

TRAI has introduced a consumer appeals mechanism allowing users to challenge spam-related complaint resolutions within 15 days1

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. Appeals will be handled by the Appellate Authority under the Telecom Consumers Complaint Redressal Regulations 2012 and can be filed through existing channels including TRAI's do-not-disturb app, telecom service provider apps or portals, and 19092

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. Call management apps are prohibited from blanket blocking, filtering, and spam-tagging calls originating from the 1600/140 number series to ensure regulated commercial calls and government communications are not mislabeled as spam1

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. However, individual consumers retain full freedom to block or filter calls on their own devices based on their preferences2

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. The anti-spam rules also make it contingent on call management apps to share spam intelligence with telecom operators if they want to offer a mechanism for users to report unsolicited commercial communication2

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