TRAI proposal to identify spammers

TRAI proposal to identify spammers

Subject : Governance

Context : The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently released a consultation paper for comments with respect to the introduction of a Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) feature.

Concept : 

• The Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) feature would help individuals by providing information about the calling party similar to the applications such as “Truecaller” and “Bharat Caller ID & Anti-Spam”.
• The main objective of introducing the CNAP feature is to ensure that telephone subscribers would be able to make informed choices about incoming calls and put a check on harassment by spam callers.

Need for CNAP

• As the subscribers are not provided with the name and identity of the caller, individuals sometimes might not answer such calls believing that it could be commercial calls from unregistered telemarketers.
• This can lead to various instances where even genuine calls are left unanswered.
• Further, concerns have been raised about robocalls (automatic calls made using IT-enabled systems), spam calls and fraudulent calls.
• As per Truecaller’s “2021 Global Spam and Scam Report”, the average number of spam calls per user per month was about 16.8 in India and the total spam volumes received by its users were more than 3.8 billion calls in October alone.
• As of now, users currently rely on in-built features or third-party applications that present the number of the calling entity to identify spam calls.

About TRAI

• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was established in 1997 by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
• The head office of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is located at New Delhi.
• The TRAI consists of a Chairperson, two whole-time members and two part-time members, all of which are appointed by the Government of India.

Functions of TRAI:

• The function of the TRAI is to make recommendations to the central government on matters related to service providers, Revocation of license for non-compliance , Measures to facilitate competition and promote efficiency in the operation of telecommunication services to facilitate their growth etc.
• Laying down the standards of quality of service to be provided by the service providers.
• Timely and officially notifying the rates at which the telecommunication services within India and outside India shall be provided under the TRAI Act, 1997.
• The recommendations of the TRAI are not binding upon the Central Government.

Powers of TRAI

• It can call upon any service provider to furnish in writing the information or explanation relating to its affairs as the Authority may require.
• The Authority may appoint one or more persons to make an inquiry in relation to the affairs of any service provider.
• It is empowered to direct any of its officers or employees to inspect the books of accounts or other documents of any service provider.
• The Authority shall have the power to issue such directions to service providers as it may consider necessary for proper functioning by service providers.