With the growing reliance on the internet and smartphones, new risks have emerged alongside the benefits these technologies bring. While smartphones have made life easier, they have also provided scammers and cybercriminals with fresh opportunities to deceive users. To address these challenges, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently introduced several measures to protect consumers from scams and online fraud.
A key step in TRAI’s efforts is the enforcement of message traceability. This initiative, announced in August, focuses on tracking commercial messages and One-Time Passwords (OTPs). Initially, telecom companies were given a deadline of October 31 to implement these measures. However, after requests from major telecom players like Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL, the deadline was extended to November 30. As the new deadline approaches, these companies are expected to comply with TRAI’s rules for tracking OTP and commercial messages.
One important consequence of this change is that OTP messages may experience delays once the traceability measures are implemented starting December 1. This could lead to longer waiting times for OTPs, especially for activities like online banking or making reservations.
TRAI’s decision to enforce this rule comes in response to the growing issue of scammers using fake OTPs to gain unauthorized access to individuals’ devices, often leading to financial losses. By implementing message traceability across all telecom networks, TRAI aims to better protect consumers from such fraudulent activities.
In another development, starting January 1, 2025, a new regulation will be introduced affecting Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL customers. These changes are intended to expedite the rollout of 5G infrastructure across India. Under the new Telecom Act, the government has mandated a standardized Right of Way (RoW) framework, which will set uniform charges for telecom companies when deploying infrastructure nationwide. Currently, RoW rules vary from state to state, causing discrepancies in permission costs and infrastructure setup across the country.