Overview

• All major Indian telecom operators have implemented the 'P', 'S', 'T' and 'G' suffix system on SMS headers as mandated by the February 12 amendment to the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations.
• The standardized suffix classification enables users to distinguish promotional, service-related, transactional and government messages to curb spam, fraud and unwanted marketing.
• COAI warns that spammers are shifting to unregulated over-the-top messaging apps, undermining SMS-based consent and anti-spam measures.
• The cellular trade body has raised concerns over privacy, traceability and national security risks posed by the regulatory gap between telecom and OTT messaging services.
• COAI is urging regulators to adopt a unified consent management framework that brings OTT platforms under the same oversight as traditional SMS channels.