Trai gives enterprises 2 weeks to verify SMS sending templates

Enterprises sending commercial messages using telecom networks have two weeks to verify the headers and message templates on the distributed ledger technology (DLT) platform, failing which the headers, templates and messages will be blocked, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said in a directive on Thursday.
This is the latest in the sector regulator's crackdown on pesky calls and messages. Trai had in February issued a directive to telcos and enterprises to re-verify the headers and templates to discourage misuse. "Any further delay on part of PEs (principal entities) to get the re-verification of headers and content templates may result in the blocking of their headers, content templates and messages," Trai warned.

Trai will review the progress in the next two weeks and may issue appropriate directions, if required, it said, urging all enterprises to complete the verification of headers and content templates immediately.

PEs or principal entities are the enterprises that send commercial messages to customers using SMS. In 2018, Trai mandated the use of a DLT platform, which is blockchain-based, to register, verify, and then send commercial messages. Enterprises were asked to register the header, or the sender code, and the template of the commercial message to be sent. Only registered entities are allowed to send commercial messages under this regime.

Earlier this year, Trai had observed that many of the headers and templates were unused and unverified on the platform and directed telcos and enterprise to re-verify all registered headers and content templates and block all unverified headers and message templates within 30 and 60 days, respectively.