Pesky SMS use overseas servers, TRAI and telecos to find a solution

Putting an end to those pesky calls/SMSes has been giving TRAI a tough time. Merely about a month after the 100 SMS/day initiative flagged off, TRAI had to raise the bar by another 100 SMS. Looks like, 200 SMS/day has a new challenge surfacing. Telemarketers have conveniently found a solution to the limited SMS woes and are now relying on servers based outside the country, as per reports by EconomicTimes.

Telemarketers use international servers

Rajan S Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India revealed that telemarketers now reach mobile subscribers through servers situated outside the country as these servers don’t fall under TRAI’s range of operations. “TRAI is concerned, it is looking into the matter as to how it can curb this (the new method adopted by telemarketing companies). We do not want the customer to suffer and we as an industry are working with TRAI to find the best possible solution,” he said.

Mathews says that it isn’t easy to monitor messages that come through servers located outside the country. However, TRAI along with service providers are striving to find a solution. TRAI also assures that unsolicited commercial communication from subscribers who do not register with them as a telemarketer will face discontinuation of services. Reportedly, about 15 telemarketers have been penalized and 900 notices have been issued against individuals so far.  

Registered telemarketers who violate the rules are said to face a penalty starting at Rs. 25,000 that extends up to Rs. 2.5 lakhs.