The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has put off indefinitely the new rules governing unwanted telemarketing calls. The rules were supposed to be implemented from March 21 onwards but it cannot be done because the Department of Telecom is yet to allocate the new numbering series for telemarketers using fixed line phone.

TRAI had earlier announced that telemarketers will be given a specific number series so that telephone users can decide whether to pick the call or not by looking at the number. While DoT has allocated the number series starting with ‘140' for telemarketers using mobile phones, it is yet to give a number series for fixed line telephone.

“Till date DoT has not allocated the numbering resources for telemarketers from fixed line network. This new numbering series will be required to be implemented by all access providers before allocation of resources to telemarketer. For this purpose time will be required by access providers to change the configuration in their system and test the new series. No time frame is available with TRAI regarding allocation of number resources by DoT,” TRAI said.

TRAI said that exact date of implementation would be notified once number resources for telemarketing from fixed line network are allocated by DoT.

comment COMMENT NOW