The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has blacklisted OnMobile Global Ltd for violating telemarketing regulations. The regulator has ordered all telecom companies to disconnect all links with OnMobile within three days and report compliance.
“All the telecom resources of such telemarketers are liable to be disconnected. Accordingly, you are requested to disconnect any telecom resources allotted to such telemarketer and confirm compliance,” Trai said in its notice to the operators.
When contacted OnMobile said it has not received any official/formal communication in this regard. “No resources have been pulled out. We are in discussion with the regulator and operators and clarifying on this matter,” the company said.
The TRAI has been cracking down on unsolicited telemarketing calls over the past few months. Recently, it disconnected 22,769 mobile connections for sending unsolicited telemarketing SMS. The regulator has also imposed penalty on 94 telemarketing companies for violating the rules on commercial calls and SMS. Four telemarketing firms have been blacklisted.
The TRAI has taken action in line with the new regulations on telemarketing calls that had come into force from September 27, 2011.
As per the provisions of this regulation, consumers who do not wish to receive unsolicited commercial call or SMSes have to get registered on National Customer Preference Register (NCPR). As on March 29, a total of 161.66 million customers have registered their preference on NCPR.
If unsolicited commercial calls and SMSes are sent from individual numbers, notice will be served to the customer and his number will be disconnected on second violation. Accordingly, 36,156 subscribers have been issued notices.