Government to Penalize Telecom Firms Over Spam Calls
TRAI imposes ₹153 crore fine; recommends seizing bank guarantees for non-compliance.
The central government has long been working on curbing the menace of unwanted calls and messages. However, telecom companies were reportedly uncooperative in assisting the government’s efforts. In response, the government is preparing to impose penalties on major telecom operators, including Jio, Airtel, Vodafone-Idea, and BSNL, if they fail to control spam calls and messages effectively.
₹153 Crore Penalty Imposed
According to reports, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has discussed the issue with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to facilitate penalties for spam control failures. TRAI has already imposed a penalty of ₹153 crore on telecom firms for non-compliance, and DoT is expected to issue an official notice soon.
Recommendation to Seize Bank Guarantees
Despite the imposed fine, telecom companies have not paid the penalty, arguing that controlling spam calls is not entirely their responsibility. In light of this, TRAI approached the DoT, recommending the seizure of bank guarantees from defaulters. TRAI had submitted a detailed report on the issue to DoT in December.
Current Scenario on Spam Calls and Messages
Despite various measures taken by DoT and TRAI, spam calls and messages continue to be a nuisance. The government insists that telecom companies must take accountability for minimizing unsolicited communications.
