India's telecom regulator has announced tough rules that may put an end to bulk, unwanted phone calls and messages.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or TRAI today said phone connections to a bank or a company responsible for unsolicited calls and SMSes will be terminated after the third complaint from a customer.
A bank or a real estate firm named in the SMS will receive a warning after the second complaint.
The new rules also say a service provider will be fined Rs. 5000 for every complaint by a customer.
All service providers have been given 15 days to get rid of all their unregistered telemarketers.
"Telemarketers don't register with the TRAI to avoid paying registration fees and the charge of five paise per promotional SMS, and to reach out to even those customers who have registered themselves in a list that restricts such calls," the TRAI said, noting that a large number of complaints were related to calls or messages on behalf of banks, insurance companies and builders.
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