Telecom operators will no longer have to wait for consumers to complain before taking action against suspected spammers, with the telecom regulatory authority of India (TRAI) mandating operators to act on callers flagged as spam by their artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) systems. A first violation detected through the AI-based mechanism can result in a 15-day ban on outgoing services, while repeat offenders face disconnection of their telecom resources for one year.
The new framework marks a shift towards proactive enforcement of India's rules governing commercial communications. Instead of relying solely on complaints from subscribers, telecom operators will increasingly be expected to use their own network intelligence and AI-based systems to identify suspicious calling patterns, trace associated connections and take action against repeat offenders.
The measures are part of the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (05 of 2026) notified by TRAI on Monday. The amended framework also requires operators to trace other connections linked to suspected spammers, restart KYC checks of identified senders and, where warranted, refer cases to law enforcement agencies.
Operators Given Strict Timelines To Trace Suspected Spammers
Under the new framework, when a telecom operator receives an incoming call that its AI or ML-enabled system flags as 'suspected spam', it must share details of the call with the originating access provider (OAP) within two hours.
The OAP will then have one business day to identify the sender's unique know-your-customer (KYC) identifiers and share the information with other telecom operators.
The operators receiving the information will also have to check their systems within one day to determine whether the suspected sender has used other connections on their networks during the previous ten days.
The rules set a specific threshold for triggering action. If five or more called line identification (CLI) numbers associated with the sender have been identified during the preceding ten days, all concerned OAPs will have to take action against the sender.
This effectively shifts the burden of identifying and acting against large-scale spam activity from individual subscribers to telecom operators and their network-level monitoring systems.
First AI-detected Violation Means 15-day Outgoing Ban
The consequences begin with a 15-day restriction for a first violation detected through the AI-based system.
Under the amended regulations, all outgoing services associated with the sender's telecom resources will be blocked for 15 days. This will apply irrespective of whether a particular telecom resource was actually used to make the communications that triggered the action.
The rules are significantly tougher for repeat offenders. For subsequent violations, all telecom resources associated with the sender, including SIMs, PRI (primary rate interface) and SIP (session initiation protocol) trunks, can be disconnected by access providers for one year. The restriction will apply to the sender's telecom resources regardless of whether each resource was used in the offending communications.
The sender will also be placed on a blacklist for the duration of the one-year restriction and will not be eligible to obtain new telecom resources from any operator.
TRAI has, however, provided a limited exception. A blacklisted sender will be allowed to retain one telephone number, with outgoing services barred. That number can be used to connect to the notified emergency outgoing services.
Telecom Operators Can Also Move against Repeat Offenders
The new system is designed to allow operators to build a broader picture of a suspected spammer's activity rather than treating each phone number as an isolated case.
Once a sender is identified, operators must look across their networks for other connections linked to the same KYC identity. The requirement to examine connections from the previous ten days is intended to prevent a spammer from simply shifting activity across multiple numbers.
The amended framework also provides for action beyond disconnection, including, where required, filing complaints with law enforcement agencies against violators.
Call-management Apps Barred from Blocking Designated Number Series
TRAI has also placed restrictions on call-management applications and similar services. Such applications will not be allowed to tag, block or filter incoming calls originating from a number series specifically designated by the authority. This includes number series such as those beginning with 1600 and 140, as well as numbers used by the Union government for commercial and government communications.
The restriction is intended to ensure that designated number series are not inadvertently treated as spam by third-party call-management services.
Consumers, however, will retain the ability to block or filter calls directly on their own devices, according to their individual preferences.
New Rules for A2P Calls
The amended regulations also introduce a charge framework for application-to-person (A2P) calls. A terminating access provider (TAP) can charge the originating access provider up to 5 paise per minute, calculated on a per-minute pulse basis, for A2P calls.
The changes come as telecom operators increasingly rely on automated systems to distinguish commercial communications from ordinary person-to-person calls and identify potentially unwanted traffic.
Consumers Can Block Promotional Calls through 1909
TRAI has also simplified the mechanism for subscribers who want to stop promotional communications across categories.
Subscribers who wish to block telemarketing calls from all categories will now have to send BLOCK PROMO by SMS to 1909.
The BLOCK PROMO preference will cover promotional commercial communications across content categories, modes, time bands and day types. It will not, however, block transaction or service-related communications or government communications.
Existing preferences registered under the earlier FULLY BLOCK category will be migrated to the new BLOCK PROMO category within 15 days of the notification.
The amended regulations will not come into force in a single step. TRAI has provided for phased implementation over 30 to 90 days from the date of notification.
