TRAI Directs Telcos to Use AI and Machine Learning to Combat Pesky SMS Senders

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed all telecommunications companies in the country to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology to detect and take action against senders of unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) who do not follow regulations. TRAI has asked all access providers to comply with the directive and report updated statuses on actions taken. TRAI defines UCC as commercial communication that is neither sent with consent nor as per a recipient’s registered preference. Unregistered telemarketers (UTMs) are unauthorized entities using unregistered mobile numbers to send commercial communication through messages or calls. TRAI said UTMs continue to send pesky messages, which it calls a significant source of inconvenience and financial loss for customers. The current systems at access providers are not fully equipped to detect UCCs sent by UTMs. Last month, TRAI issued a warning to banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, and other PEs to register their content templates as part of the agency’s campaign to halt SMS scams in India.