From The Economic Times · PTI · · 1m
Government empowers TRAI to penalise telecom operators
Government plans to give TRAI power to penalise telecom operators for flouting pesky call rules.
In brief
Government plans to give TRAI power to penalise telecom operators for flouting pesky call rules. Government will empower TRAI to penalise telecom operators for unregistered telemarketers after 20.75 lakh complaints in 2025. Originally reported by The Economic Times.
Complaints surge
Consumers filed 20.75 lakh complaints against pesky callers in first half of 2025, 66 per cent of total 31.09 lakh complaints filed in 2025.
TRAI power gap
TRAI lacks authority to impose financial penalties on telecom operators for flouting rules on pesky calls and SMSes.
DoT delays
Department of Telecom has not executed penal orders due to legal-technical issues and reduced bank guarantees post 2021 telecom reforms.
TDSAT stay order
Telecom operators challenged TRAI's penal orders and obtained a stay order from Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.
Complaints trend
Complaints against pesky callers rose 60 per cent to 31.09 lakh in 2025 from 19.38 lakh in 2024.
Blacklisting surge
1,406 telemarketer entities blacklisted in first half of 2026, up from 995 in 2025.
The essence
Government will empower TRAI to penalise telecom operators for unregistered telemarketers after 20.75 lakh complaints in 2025.
