TRAI Clears Confusion Over 100 SMS Limit

After the successful implementation of new Do Not Disturb (DND) rules to curb pesky calls, SMS from telemarketers, Indian Telecom regulator TRAI clears its stand and confusion over 100 SMS Limit.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said that the regulations prescribe several steps for protection of customers from unsolicited Commercial calls and SMSs. Currently, Telecom service providers offer SMS packages offering as many as 2000 SMS per day, which can be made use of by Unregistered persons for sending commercial communications/ Unwanted SMS from ordinary numbers. In order to reduce such a possibility, TRAI has, in consumer interest, prescribed a limit of 100 SMS per day per SIM for all the customers

Concerns have been raised that such provisions will impact flow of transactional messages such as from a Bank to its customers or from Airlines to its passengers, and likewise from the schools to the students/ parents. This concern is misplaced. Under the Regulation, such messages are classified as Transactional messages and the limit of 100 SMS does not apply to the Transaction messages. It is open to the authority to notify further categories as Transactional messages.

It is also to be noted that the time restriction of 9 pm to 9 am does not relate to the transactional messages which can be sent at any time.

It has also come to the notice that some telemarketers are sending SMS to customers registered on National Customer Preference Register (NCPR) stating that if they want to receive transactional messages then they have to deregister from NCPR. Customers are requested to be aware of such messages which are apparently based on misunderstanding of the regulations and customers already registered on NCPR are requested to not deregister.

In order to address the genuine requirements of customers, TRAI has issued a Direction to all Mobile and Telecom Service opertaors to exempting certain categories from the limit of 100 SMS per day. These are agents of telecom service providers for sending electronic recharge messages, e-ticketing agencies, certain social networking sites like Facebook, GooglePlus, Twitter and certain Directory services. It is open to the Authority to notify further categories, as and when warranted.