TRAI mandates caller-ID apps share spam data with Indian telcos

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced a new regulatory framework to combat unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) using artificial intelligence and machine learning. The updated rules mandate that caller-ID and call-management applications share user-generated spam reports with telecom operators via a blockchain-based platform.

Under the new guidelines, if five or more numbers associated with a single sender are flagged for spam activity within a 10-day period, telecom companies can initiate enhanced investigations, including KYC re-verification and physical verification. Persistent violators may face service disconnection. The framework also targets Application-to-Person (A2P) calls, such as robocalls and automated messages, requiring businesses to notify operators of their use or face classification as spam and potential termination fees.

Truecaller has criticized the mandate as ‘anti-competitive,’ describing it as a ‘one-way exchange’ of proprietary data. The company noted that its Indian users encountered approximately 42 billion spam calls in 2025. Meanwhile, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has welcomed the efforts, advocating for a subscriber-centric architecture to ensure consent is verifiable at the point of delivery.