Telecom regulator Trai has asked telecom companies to de-activate the
international calling facility in pre-paid numbers and restore it only
after a subscriber gives his explicit consent to avail this facility.
"Inform all pre-paid subscribers having ISD facility, through
SMS, within 10 days of the date of issue of this direction, that ISD
facility of the subscribers shall be discontinued after sixty days,"
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said in a directive to
telcos.
"If such subscribers want to continue with ISD facility, they
should give their explicit consent for availing such facility within 60
days of the receipt of the SMS," it added.
Trai has issued this directive following complaints from
consumers about missed calls from international telephone numbers which
are often premium numbers charging high tariff, prompting the consumers
to make call to such numbers.
Trai said it has also been receiving complaints from consumers
about receiving calls and SMSes from international numbers informing
them about winning of prizes or lottery and prompting consumers to call a
particular number to claim the prize or lottery money.
"These numbers are international numbers, which are often premium
numbers charging higher tariffs. By responding to such calls/SMS the
consumers have to pay unintended charges," Trai said.
The regulator has asked telecom operators to inform subscribers
through SMS, within 10 days of the direction, that pre-paid cellular
mobile telephone service consumers need not respond to all missed calls
from unknown international numbers or calls about winning prizes or
lottery.
Trai has asked telecom service providers to send such SMS to
consumers every six months and provide easy and transparent opt-in and
opt-out facility to the consumers of the cellular mobile telephone
service for activation or deactivation of ISD facility.
நன்றி : இந்தியன் எக்ஸ்பிரஸ்
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