New Delhi. Telecom regulator TRAI has further strengthened the scope of action for mobile consumers troubled by continuous unwanted and spam calls. TRAI on September 18, 2026 released a new framework for technology-based enforcement and consumer protection to curb unsolicited commercial communications (UCC). This includes identification of suspected spam activities through artificial intelligence and machine learning based systems and provision for sharing information between different telecom companies.
Identifying suspicious numbers with AI
AI/ML based UCC_Detect system is being used in TRAI's system. Its purpose is to identify numbers and senders that are suspected of carrying out large-scale unsolicited commercial communications. In February 2026, TRAI had issued guidelines for inter-operator information sharing and regulatory action through this technology-based system.
If multiple mobile numbers associated with a single sender are consistently exposed to spam activity, the concerned telecom company may conduct additional investigations on that sender. The available framework also has provisions for steps like KYC re-verification and physical verification, if necessary.
Investigation may increase if five numbers are received in 10 days
Under the new provisions, if five or more numbers associated with a sender are flagged for spam activity within 10 days, then its connections and KYC can be reviewed. If necessary, outgoing calls or other telecommunication services from the concerned numbers can be restricted. In case of continuous violation of rules, action to terminate the connection is also possible.
Monitoring of auto dialer and robocalls also
TRAI has also set rules regarding the use of Application-to-Person (A2P) voice calls. These include auto dialers, robocalls, pre-recorded messages, and automated or recorded voice calls.
Companies and organizations making such calls will have to inform their telecom operator in advance that they are using the A2P calling system and from which numbers the calls will be made. Under TRAI rules, it is necessary to give prior notice of the use of auto dialers or robocalls and their purpose.
Easy to identify from 1600 and 1601 series
TRAI has also extended the use of 1600 and 1601 numbering series to identify service and transaction related calls. A phased implementation of the 1601 Series began in August 2026 for utility, courier and logistics sector entities. Its purpose is to differentiate between genuine service related calls and suspicious or fraudulent calls.
Rules have already been made to implement 1600 series for BFSI and Government entities, so that consumers can easily identify the genuine service and transaction calls of such entities.
Rules for call management apps also
TRAI has also made provisions regarding the functioning of call management apps. Legitimate calls coming from 140 and 1600 series are not allowed to be tagged or blocked as spam based on the number series alone. The purpose of this is to prevent legitimate service and transaction related calls from unnecessarily going through spam filters.
Apart from this, monitoring and enforcement mechanisms have also been strengthened to prevent misuse of commercial headers and content templates.
Consumers will get facility of complaint and appeal
Consumer protection has also been emphasized in TRAI's new framework. The process of complaint resolution and regulatory action has been strengthened along with identification of suspicious and unwanted commercial communications. This move by TRAI is towards reducing the risk of spam calls as well as potential financial frauds through such communications.
In this way, in the coming time, spam activities on telecom networks will be identified not only on the basis of complaints, but also on the basis of AI/ML based analysis, numbering series and information shared between telecom companies.