Trai to issue consultation paper on do not disturb service

NEW DELHI: The telecom regulator TRAI on Thursday issued a consultation paper on reviewing the framework of do not disturb (DND) for blocking of spam calls and pesky messages more effectively, even instantaneously compared to nearly a week at present.

"Messages are getting more dangerous, related to financial fraud which may be motivated by nefarious designs or insider trading, for influencing gullible investors," Trai chairman RS Sharma told reporters.

Meanwhile the regulator is looking into the request of carriers to extend the time frame for implementing the new, stricter call drop standards under quality of service norms from October 1 this year. Trai came out with the rules last month which made it mandatory for telcos to ensure connectivity to 97% of the time, 90% of the towers should not have a call drop rate of more than 3%.

Trai had also laid out penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh per circle for not meeting the new benchmarks.

The Trai chairman added that the authority was working hard on the contentious issue of IUC, with the aim to issue it as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the regulator aims to roll out first public WiFi hotspot by December, even as it awaits the reference back from telecom department to relook at the recommendations on free data to each mobile phone user.

Sharma said that the DOT was yet to send a reference on looking into relaxation of existing spectrum cap rules.

The inter ministerial group looking into the financial woes of the telecom sector had suggested that Trai should look into the larger issue of relaxation of intra-band spectrum caps, a demand that has been raised by some carriers.