TRAI To Launch DCA Platform To Help Customers Reduce Spam Calls & Msgs

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is set to launch a digital consent authorisation (DCA) platform in the next two to three months. The launch of the DCA platform will expedite the process of receiving consumer consent on the distributed ledger technology (DLT) platform, which is directed by the telecom regulator to stop pesky telephonic calls and messages.

The DCA platform, which is currently under the testing mode, once launched will enable customers to whitelist their numbers on the platform, an official told the Economic Times. 

Notably, as per the TRAI directive in 2018, telecom operators use DLT systems to decrease unsolicited commercial communication (spam calls and messages) for customers.

Under the DLT systems, TRAI had earlier asked telcos to build a digital ledger wherein telemarketer and brand information, header (brand name or label that sends messages to customers) and template for various categories of messages, are added.  

 Once customers register their numbers on the DCA platform, the next step is to employ scrubbing of promotional messages, which are being sent out. In essence, scrubbing is tallying the message with the assigned template and sender details mentioned on the digital leaders. Once a promotional message is matched with the template, only then it would be sent out to customers. 

Lastly, the DCA platform will take customers’ consent on the brands or companies they would like to receive communication from. 

It is prudent to note that the DCA platform will enable companies to get consent from interested subscribers, without burdening them to accept or reject the consent. As per the telecom regulator, a customer needs to give a yes or no in response to promotional communication.

“In case there is no ‘yes’ or ‘no’ (response) from the customer, there would be a certain cooling off period (which will be decided soon) when the telemarketer would not be allowed to send any more promotional messages to customers. After the cooling off period, the telemarketer can again start sending messages,” an official said. 

Earlier this month, the telecom regulatory authority had instructed telecom operators to take necessary steps to improve the quality of services and also, make sure that the launch of 5G services would not impact the existing telecom services in India.

It also asked telecom operators to address unsolicited commercial communications issues including call muting and one-way speech and commanded them to take an immediate action on priority. 

Before that, the telecom regulator directed telecom operators to block unverified headers and message templates within a 30 and 60 days time period. It also directed telecom operators to bar all unregistered telemarketers, which are not boarded on the DLT platform, from updating their message templates to deliver messages via their network.

It also informed telcos that they should share information about defaulting telemarketers with each other and take action against such defaulters, as per the regulatory provisions.