Can't block calls from 1600 no. series, but can put 140 series on DND: Trai
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has prohibited apps from blocking or filtering calls originating from the 1600 and 140 number series. While 140 series promotional calls can be managed via the DND registry, the regulator insists that tagging or filtering these calls is not permitted to ensure the trustworthiness of government and financial communications.
Why it matters
This regulation directly impacts how mobile users manage spam and fraud, potentially limiting the effectiveness of third-party caller identification apps like Truecaller in India.
NEW DELHI: No app can block phone calls originating from the 1600 number series that are meant for communications by regulated entities and govt to citizens, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said Friday, adding promotional calls from the 140 series can be blocked by using the do not disturb (DND) registry, but these can't be tagged or filtered by an app. "Under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulation, any tagging, blocking or filtering of the calls originating from 1600 series numbers is not permitted," Trai said. The regulator has mandated the use of 1600 series numbers for service and transaction calls by regulated entities of banking, financial services and insurance entities regulated by RBI, Sebi, IRDAI and PFRDA to their existing customers and by govt entities for govt-to-citizen communication. This has been done to make such calls trustworthy for citizens.
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