Overview
- TRAI on Friday, September 18, 2026, amended the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations to require telecom operators to deploy AI/ML systems that identify and share numbers likely used for spam.
- The regulator formally defined Application-to-Person (A2P) calls as automated or app‑initiated voice calls and requires firms to pre-declare the numbers they use or have those calls treated as unsolicited commercial communications.
- Undeclared A2P traffic can trigger graded sanctions and a termination charge of up to ₹0.05 per minute for unauthorised calls while calls from designated commercial series are exempt from the charge and from blanket blocking by call‑management apps.
- Enforcement can begin faster when operator AI flags a sender, with action starting after three consumer complaints within 10 days if the AI also raises a match and full probe steps (KYC rechecks, physical verification, barring and possible disconnection) apply after multiple flagged numbers.
- The changes aim to speed removal of spam while protecting legitimate commercial and service calls, but practical effect will depend on how quickly operators build reliable AI detection, coordinate suspected‑sender sharing and run appeals and verification processes.