TRAI Resolves Not to Cancel Apple Phone Registrations Amid DND Application Dispute 

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is set to collaborate with Apple to resolve the ongoing deadlock concerning the introduction of its Do Not Disturb (DND) application to Apple’s iOS Store. Apple removed the app from its store in September last year due to privacy concerns, despite Trai rules mandating penalties for device manufacturers restricting access to the DND app. Earlier suggestions of canceling the registration of Apple devices will not be pursued, according to senior officials, and they anticipate a resolution in the coming months. 

Trai operates the National Customer Preference Registry, previously known as the National Do Not Call Registry. This registry enables users to opt out of unsolicited commercial communication (UCC). The DND app empowers consumers to report UCC within three days of receipt. In a bid to combat the surge in UCC, Trai updated the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR-2018), implementing stricter norms to curb UCC. Access providers were instructed to ensure customers stop receiving UCC within 24 hours of official complaints, with orders to ‘derecognize’ devices impeding DND app installations. 

The matter sparked uncertainty over millions of Apple devices in India, with Apple contending that it doesn’t grant app developers access to user call and message logs, a prerequisite for the DND app. Officials affirmed ongoing discussions with Apple and acknowledged the impracticality of sudden device deregistration due to potential public inconvenience. Apple maintained over 6% of India’s smartphone market share at the end of the July-September quarter, experiencing record shipments and notable year-on-year growth. 

The DND app boasts an intelligent spam detection engine, crowdsourcing data on offending messages and calls, and offers updates on complaint resolutions. While available on the Google Play Store, it has faced criticism for bugs and glitches. Officials assured the swift resolution of these issues and announced accessibility for all Android users by March next year. Additionally, the DND app can be accessed via the Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) App. 

Spam calls and messages have escalated, prompting Trai to receive 904,000 complaints against unregistered telemarketers in 2022. These rules mandate disconnection and blacklisting of telemarketing connections for up to two years on the third violation. The surge in spam-related issues has been notable, with 2022 complaints surpassing those in 2021 and 2020, signifying the heightened problem following the Covid pandemic. Consumers can utilize the DND registry to selectively block UCC from specific categories, addressing concerns about unwanted commercial communications. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TRAI Recommends Auction of 5G mmWave Spectrum
5G/6G Regulatory

TRAI Recommends Auction of 5G mmWave Spectrum

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reiterated to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that spectrum bands including 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz should be put up for auction. Additionally, TRAI will initiate a consultation process to provide […]

Read More
500 Fraud Sale SIM Cards Uncovered by DoT Hyderabad
Regulatory

500 Fraud Sale SIM Cards Uncovered by DoT Hyderabad

The Hyderabad unit of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has uncovered a major telecom fraud involving the unauthorized sale of 500 Vodafone Idea (Vi) SIM cards. According to DoT, a Point of Sale (POS) agent was found involved in illegally distributing these SIMs, which were supplied to unregistered and illegal telemarketers. The authenticity of documents […]

Read More
TDSAT Halts TRAI’s Penalty Order Against Jio, Airtel, and Vi Report
Regulatory

TDSAT Halts TRAI’s Penalty Order Against Jio, Airtel, and Vi: Report

The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has granted relief to private telecom operators by staying the ₹141 crore penalty imposed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for failing to curb spam communications. The penalty was levied on major private telcos, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi), for their […]

Read More