Regulators
Trai requests telecom service providers to review consumer complaints
Mumbai : The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) recently held a meeting with major Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) to review the issues related to the quality of telecom services being faced by consumers and the menace of unsolicited commercial communications (UCC).
The authority has directed TSPs to take immediate action to demonstrate visible improvements in service quality and consumer experience. TSPs were instructed to investigate the issue of call muting and one-way speech and to take corrective action as soon as possible. TSPs should ensure that there is minimal disruption or degradation of QoS of existing telecom services while rolling out 5G networks.
TSPs were also informed that Trai is closely monitoring long-duration network outages. Such outages have a negative impact on service quality and the consumer experience. All telecom providers were asked to notify Trai of any such outages in any district or state. If necessary, Trai may consider enacting appropriate regulations.
Trai also requested that TSPs plan and implement systems for online data collection for QoS benchmarks, as well as their processing to generate performance reports at the License Service Area, State, or lower granularity levels. This will simplify the process of QoS performance reporting by TSPs, reducing the compliance burden.
Given the scale and size of the network being built for the rollout of 5G services, as well as the important use cases being developed by various industry verticals, Trai requested that TSPs implement systems for internal QoS monitoring by TSPs on a 24×7 and 360-degree basis. It was also suggested that network features be used in accordance with standards, and that Al/ ML techniques be used for QoS monitoring and management.
Trai has also asked TSPs to implement two directives issued by Trai on 16 February, 2023, in a timely manner. These two directives were issued to combat some telemarketers’ misuse of principal entity (PE) headers and message templates, as well as messages from unauthorised or unregistered telemarketers, including telemarketers using telephone numbers.
Reduce unwanted calls from registered telemarketers or 10-digit phone numbers and place them on the DLT platform for management and monitoring.
I&B Ministry
Digital radio, D2M tech set to reshape broadcasting and public messaging
Govt pushes next-gen delivery while TRAI tightens grip on spam ecosystem
NEW DELHI: India’s broadcasting and telecom landscape is undergoing a quiet but significant upgrade, with digital radio and Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technologies emerging as powerful tools for mass communication, while regulators step up efforts to tackle spam calls.
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, digital radio and D2M are poised to transform how content reaches audiences by making more efficient use of spectrum. In simple terms, multiple channels can now be delivered over a single frequency, opening the door to a wider range of free-to-air content.
D2M technology takes this a step further by enabling video, audio and data to be broadcast directly to mobile handsets without relying on SIM cards or mobile data. The result is a resilient and cost-effective data pipe that can deliver everything from entertainment and education to critical emergency alerts, even in low-connectivity scenarios.
At the same time, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is tightening its grip on unsolicited commercial communication, better known as spam calls. The regulator has deployed a distributed ledger technology platform to bring transparency and accountability into the system.
Through this blockchain-based setup, consumers can register their preferences on receiving promotional messages, while businesses and telemarketers must also sign up and operate within defined rules. The platform also includes a complaint mechanism that allows users to report spam, with complaints shared across telecom operators for coordinated action.
The government’s broader push is being supported by infrastructure upgrades under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development scheme. Implemented through Prasar Bharati, the initiative focuses on modernising networks such as Akashvani and Doordarshan, including digitisation and adoption of next-generation broadcast equipment.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state for information and broadcasting L. Murugan said these steps are part of a larger effort to promote emerging technologies and strengthen the country’s broadcasting backbone. The response came to a query raised by member of Parliament Rao Rajendra Singh.
Together, these developments point to a dual-track strategy: expanding access to reliable, low-cost content while cleaning up the communication ecosystem. As digital pipes get smarter and spam filters sharper, India’s airwaves may soon feel a lot less noisy and far more useful.
