OTP problems to end soon , TRAI cancels anti-spam regulations

TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) was testing a new blockchain technology to prevent fake messages. It was designed to filter out bogus messages, whose testing has now been put on hold. 

Story Highlights

• Unsolicited calls, strictness regarding SMS
• Companies have implemented new rules for this problem
• Due to this, the problem will remain for a few days

After the strictness of the government regarding unsolicited calls and messages, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday decided to temporarily suspend the 2018 Telecom Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR) which aimed at reducing spam SMS messages. 

The delay has been caused by a massive disruption in SMS services which has worried a large number of people in the country. Telecom operators implemented the new DLT (distributed laser technology) process to comply with the new regulations. However, this move made it difficult to obtain one-time passwords (OTPs) through SMS messages and processes like cowin registration, debit card transactions, two factor authentication, and many more online activities which include SMS services for working .

What is the new DLT system?

The new DLT system is a kind of filter process, in which a particular type of OTP SMS is forwarded. In simple terms, the rule of delivery of the contents of every SMS containing the registered template has been implemented only after it has been verified. This process is called scrubbing. For this, telecom companies have to register their specific templates to banks and other financial companies. The last date for registering the template was 7 March 2021. After this, the DLT rule was implemented on behalf of the telecom companies. By this time, the preparation of the companies registering the template was incomplete. But the telecom companies started implementing the new rules as per the TRAI guidelines from 8 March. Due to this, people are facing the problem of not getting an OTP since 8 March.

Is this suspension permanent or temporary?

Industry sources have confirmed that TRAI is suspending TCCCPR due to OTP issues that Lacs of people faced on Monday. According to one source, the affected OTP API will "work again soon". It said that most of the OTP systems are already generic and the rest will be fully functional soon.

However, this is not a permanent rollback. Instead, it is a temporary measure of the difficulties people face. “People have to submit a blueprint for their messages, and the whole process continues". The suspension of TCCCPR is only a temporary measure. 

TRAI still needs to clarify whether the suspension is limited to a period or whether it is for an indefinite period. Some sources told that the regulator is yet to notify telecom operators of the update.

Government showed strictness

The government recently became strict in this matter. Fines will be imposed on companies sending unsolicited commercial calls or SMS to customers. Soon some apps will be developed through which customers will be able to complain about unsolicited calls, SMS, and financial frauds to the telecom companies. Also, to prevent financial fraud a Digital Intelligence Unit will be set up.

These decisions were taken in a meeting chaired by Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad recently. In a meeting with senior officials of Prasad, the number of commercial calls was said to increase. Officials said that commercial calls and SMSs continue to come from the same number, even though customers have been registered in the Do Not Disturb (DND).

Prasad instructed to take strict action against such companies and asked for the provision of penalty on them. It has been said in the instructions that the connections of telemarketing companies that violate the rules will also be cut. A meeting will be held with telecom and telemarketing companies to ensure compliance with the ministry's directive.