Mobile subscribers will have to face the problem of unsolicited telemarketing calls and SMS for one more month as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday extended the deadline for implementing its new guidelines till March 1, 2011.
Earlier operators and telemarketing companies were to implement the new recommendations from January 1, 2011, which was later extended to January 31, 2011. Now TRAI has again given one-month extension to them due to technical difficulties they are facing to upgrade their systems. “On January 31, 2011, the Department of Telecommunications has communicated a fresh numbering series beginning with the number ‘140' in place of ‘70' number series. Communicating the same to all the access providers and carrying out the required changes would require time. In view of the new series, telecom operators will have to effect a number of technical changes like configuration of networks and putting in place filtering solutions to stop Unsolicited Commercial Calls ,” the TRAI said.
“Therefore, the Authority is compelled to change the date of implementation of operationalisation of the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010 to March 1, 2011,” it added. As per the new order, customer preference registrations would begin from February 10, which would be effective within seven days.
