The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has disconnected 22,769 mobile connections for sending unwanted 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 provisions of the new regulations had come into force from 27th September 2011. As per the provisions of the regulations, telecom consumers who do not wish to receive unsolicited commercial call or SMSs, may register their preference(s) on National Customer Preference Register (NCPR). As on March 29, a total of 161.66 million customers have registered their preference on NCPR.
As per the regulations, if unsolicited commercial calls and SMSs are sent from individual numbers, notice will be served to the customer and his number will be disconnected on second violation.
Accordingly, after implementation of regulations on September 27, 2011, 36156 subscribers have been issued notices, TRAI said.