Technology Desk: Everyone is troubled by the repeated calls for loan, credit card and insurance during the day. Many times, even after blocking the number, calls start coming from a new number. Now TRAI has taken strict steps to curb such spam calls.

Telecom companies will now have to identify spam calls with the help of AI and machine learning. The special thing is that one will not have to wait for the customer's complaint to take action.

AI will automatically identify suspicious numbers

Under TRAI's new Third Amendment Regulation, telecom companies will have to keep an eye on spam calls. If the company's AI system identifies a number as suspected spam, further investigation will begin.

In this, it will not be necessary to lodge a complaint on behalf of the customer. That means, action can be taken on the spamming number also on the basis of system identification.

Investigation will start in just 2 hours

Time limit for action has also been fixed in the new rules. As soon as a network's system identifies a suspicious call, it has to inform the concerned network within 2 hours.

After this, the company which has the SIM will have to get the KYC information within 1 working day. This information will also be shared with other telecom companies.

Along with this, other SIMs issued with the same KYC in the last 10 days will also be checked.

Big action on 5 or more spam cases

If investigation reveals that 5 or more spam calls have been made from KYC-linked numbers of any person or company in 10 days, then strict action can be taken.

In such a case, only that number will not be blocked. Other telecom connections to KYC may also come under the ambit of action.

If caught for the first time, outgoing will be closed for 15 days

There is a provision for action even if caught spamming for the first time. In such cases, the outgoing service of the telecom resources of the person concerned can be stopped for 15 days.

This means that outgoing calls and other services may be blocked from the affected connection.

1 year ban if caught second time

If someone does spamming again, the action will become more strict.

In such a case, all his SIM, PRI lines and internet connections can be closed for 1 year. Besides, he can also be blacklisted for 1 year.

During this period he will not be able to get a new SIM from any telecom company.

Rules on apps like Truecaller too

TRAI has also set rules for calling and spam detection apps. Such apps will not be able to tag the special number series set by the government or telecom authority as spam as per their wish.

Numbers such as the number series starting with 160 are used for scheduled official commercial calls.

However, blocking a number on your phone will be in the hands of the user. The user can block any number as per his need.

Use 1909 to stop spam calls

If you are troubled by promotional calls, you can use DND service. For this, a facility to block promotional communication is available by sending SMS to 1909.

This helps in stopping promotional calls and messages. Whereas important banking transactional messages and services like OTP fall in a separate category.

Now it will be difficult for spammers to escape

The purpose of the new rules is not to limit the identity of spammers to just one SIM. By checking other connections to KYC, people taking new numbers again and again can also be monitored.

With this, the action of telecom companies against spam calls can be more rapid and systematic.