New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) Telecom service providers are optimistic that the regulator’s move to allocate telemarketers a phone number beginning with ’70’ and the proposal of hefty fines for violators will benefit customers in many ways.
‘It’s a good step in the right direction and has been taken keeping in mind the consumer’s benefit. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has focussed on the comments received from the operators,’ said Rajan Mathews, director general of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
‘The regulation enhances the customers choice by offering a do not call as well as do call registry,’ he added.
The telecom watchdog issued its regulation on unsolicited commercial calls saying that users can choose from different categories like ‘fully blocked’ or ‘partially blocked’, under which a customer can receive communication for categories of his choice.
The previous regulation asked customers to register their numbers in ‘do not call’ list.
The regulation has also barred sending commercial communication between 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., even for unregistered customers.
Also proposed are hefty fines ranging from Rs.25,000 to Rs.2.5 lakh, depending on the number of violations.
The regulation will be effective from Jan 1, 2011.
