Telcos implement suffixes for SMS headers, urge for unified consent framework
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
's (
TRAI
) latest amendment, to improve transparency of communications and reduce spam and unsolicited messages.
These suffixes for SMS headers include promotional ('P'), service-related ('S'), transactional ('T') and Government ('G') communications, as mandated by the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR) vide its amendment to the TCCCP Regulation dated February 12, 2025.
'This implementation has enhanced transparency and consumer protection as such categorisation enables subscribers to easily identify the nature of incoming messages, reducing spam, strengthening compliance and improving overall trust and convenience for users,' SP Kochhar, director-general of the Cellular Operators Association of India (
COAI
), said in a statement.
The Delhi-based association represents telecom incumbents
Reliance Jio
,
Bharti Airtel
, and
Vodafone Idea
(Vi).
Kochhar said the approach promotes a safer and consumer-friendly communication ecosystem, but warned that over-the-top (OTT) communication services are being consistently utilised for spam and fraud menssages, noting that the success of any consent framework or spam mitigation measure is incomplete if 'large parts of the communication ecosystem remain unregulated'.
'This regulatory gap is increasingly being exploited, with a growing share of scams and unsolicited promotions now originating on OTT apps, adding to customer woes. Moreover, this creates an uneven playing field between the TSPs and the OTT communication services, raising privacy, traceability and national security concerns,' Kochhar said.
COAI suggested that bridging the regulatory loophole through a unified consent management framework that brings all platforms, including OTTs, under its purview is 'critical to protect consumers and ensure consistency across the ecosystem'.
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