The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) took enforcement action against more than 124,000 telecom resources during July–September 2026 as part of its efforts to curb spam calls and unsolicited commercial communications. The regulator also blacklisted 374 senders for one year and blocked 3,725 SMS headers for violating rules governing commercial communications.
According to TRAI’s quarterly report for the second quarter of FY27, telecom operators barred 110,325 resources from outgoing services for 15 days following first-time violations. Another 13,777 resources were disconnected for one year because of repeated violations. The figures highlight the regulator’s continued focus on identifying spam sources and restricting repeat offenders across India’s telecom networks.
TRAI’s Spam Enforcement Actions in Q2 FY27
The enforcement figures cover the period from July 1 to September 30, 2026. TRAI compiled the report using information submitted by telecom service providers.
The regulator used different penalties depending on the nature and frequency of violations. First-time offenders faced temporary restrictions, while repeat violations resulted in longer disconnections.
| Enforcement action | Number of telecom resources |
|---|---|
| Barred for 15 days for first violation | 110,325 |
| Disconnected for one year for repeat violations | 13,777 |
| Senders blacklisted for one year | 374 |
| SMS headers blocked | 3,725 |
| Total telecom resources barred or disconnected | 124,102 |
The 124,102 figure combines resources barred for 15 days and those disconnected for one year. The separate figures for blacklisted senders and blocked SMS headers represent additional enforcement measures.
A blacklisted sender cannot obtain fresh telecom resources during the one-year restriction period. The rules are intended to prevent businesses and telemarketers from continuing spam activities by simply switching to new telephone numbers or messaging identifiers.
TRAI Receives 15.29 Lakh Spam Complaints
TRAI received approximately 1.529 million complaints about unsolicited commercial communications during the September quarter. Of these, around 723,000 were classified as actionable complaints, meaning they could be considered for enforcement.
The complaints were recorded against a backdrop of substantial communication activity across Indian telecom networks.
During July–September, telecom networks originated 714.01 billion calls and 702.28 billion SMS messages. The complaint rate worked out to approximately 2.14 complaints for every million outgoing calls.
| Telecom activity | July–September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Total subscriber base | 1.349 billion |
| Outgoing calls | 714.01 billion |
| Outgoing SMS messages | 702.28 billion |
| Total spam complaints | 1.529 million |
| Actionable complaints | 723,000 |
The figures show the scale of the challenge facing telecom operators and regulators. Even a relatively small proportion of unwanted communications can affect millions of subscribers because of the enormous volume of calls and messages sent every day.
TRAI DND App Accounts for 92.9% of Complaints
The TRAI Do Not Disturb (DND) App remained the primary channel through which consumers reported spam communications.
The application accounted for approximately 1.421 million complaints during the quarter, representing 92.9% of all unsolicited commercial communication complaints received by access providers. By September 30, the app had recorded 4.236 million downloads.
TRAI has encouraged consumers to report unwanted commercial calls and messages because complaints help telecom operators identify potential offenders and initiate enforcement action.
The regulator also conducted awareness campaigns during the quarter to increase adoption of the DND App. These included campaigns across 132 FM radio channels, 15 All India Radio FM channels, 23 private television channels, two Doordarshan channels and 97 newspapers.
In addition, 322 physical consumer awareness programmes were organised across the country, involving approximately 31,000 participants. Telecom operators and TRAI also sent more than 3 billion SMS messages to inform subscribers about the app and its reporting features.
Consumers can report spam through the TRAI DND App, their telecom operator’s application or website, or by calling or sending an SMS to 1909.
AI Systems Flag 19.9 Billion Suspected Spam Calls and Messages
Artificial intelligence-based detection systems deployed by telecom operators also played a significant role in the crackdown.
These systems analyse calling patterns to identify suspected spam activity, including communications originating from ordinary 10-digit mobile numbers that may bypass designated commercial communication channels.
During Q2 FY27, the systems flagged 18.28 billion incoming calls and 1.62 billion incoming SMS messages as suspected spam.
The combined total reached approximately 19.9 billion suspected spam communications.
Telecom operators also issued 4.59 million warning notifications to entities identified as having a high probability of sending spam. These notifications are intended to alert suspected senders before further regulatory action is taken.
Operators conducted electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification of 34,025 suspected senders. Following verification, 9,977 connections were disconnected because the senders failed the required KYC checks.
AI-based flagging does not automatically mean that every identified communication is confirmed spam. Instead, the systems provide warnings that help subscribers exercise caution when receiving potentially unwanted calls and messages.
Dedicated Numbering Series to Identify Commercial Calls
TRAI has also introduced dedicated numbering series to help consumers distinguish promotional calls from service-related and transactional communications.
The 140 series is designated for promotional calls. These calls are checked against customers’ registered Do Not Disturb preferences before delivery.
The 1600 series is used for service and transactional calls from entities in banking, financial services and insurance, as well as government-to-citizen communications. TRAI introduced the 1601 series on August 10, 2026, for similar communications from utilities, logistics and delivery companies.
During July–September, the 140 series carried 15.27 billion promotional calls. Of these, approximately 1.70 billion were blocked after verification against registered DND preferences.
Registered senders and telemarketers also originated 660.71 billion commercial SMS messages during the quarter. Another 11.09 billion promotional SMS messages were blocked after preference verification.
These numbering systems are intended to make commercial communications more transparent and give consumers greater control over which calls they accept.
More Than 1.12 Billion Subscribers Have Not Registered DND Preferences
TRAI’s report also highlighted a significant gap in consumer registration on the Do Not Disturb registry.
As of September 30, 2026, approximately 224.49 million subscribers had registered their preferences. This represented 16.64% of India’s total subscriber base of 1.349 billion.
More than 1.12 billion subscribers had not registered any DND preferences. As a result, they remained accessible to commercial communications from registered telemarketers and senders, subject to applicable regulations.
Consumers can register preferences to block promotional communications from selected sectors or across all sectors. They can also modify their preferences through the TRAI DND App, their telecom operator’s website or application, or the 1909 helpline.
The Bigger Picture
TRAI’s latest enforcement figures show that India’s approach to spam prevention is expanding beyond simply blocking individual telephone numbers. Temporary barring, long-term disconnections, sender blacklisting, SMS header restrictions and AI-based detection are being used together to target different parts of the commercial communication ecosystem. The measures also aim to prevent repeat offenders from continuing their activities through fresh connections.
However, consumer participation remains important. The relatively low proportion of subscribers registered on the DND registry suggests that many users have not actively configured their preferences for promotional communications. Wider adoption of the DND App, combined with stronger verification of commercial senders, could help improve the effectiveness of the regulatory framework.
Looking Ahead
Telecom operators are expected to continue expanding automated spam detection and sender verification systems as unwanted calls and messages remain a concern for mobile subscribers. TRAI’s designated numbering series could also make it easier for consumers to identify promotional and transactional communications, provided businesses follow the prescribed rules.
For consumers, reporting suspicious calls and messages remains an important part of the enforcement process. Registering DND preferences and using the official reporting channels can help telecom operators identify repeat offenders and take action against entities violating unsolicited commercial communication regulations.
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