Unsolicited Commercial Communication

Types of calls/SMS received by mobile users

The following are the SMS/Calls you might receive:

• Transactional messages/calls
• Service messages/calls
• Government awareness messages/calls
• Alerts/messages from Telecom Service Provider

What is Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) or Spam?

UCC or Spam is an unwanted message you receive by Message or Voice call that are received neither as per the consent given by recipient to sender nor as per registered preference(s) of recipient.

Any commercial communication may only take place using registered header(s) assigned to the sender(s) for the purpose of commercial communication. Unregistered Telemarketer (UTM) means any Sender of commercial communication who is not registered for the purpose of telemarketing with the service provider(s).

Subscriber, who is making communications using 10 digit numbers, will be considered as UTM and is not allowed to make unsolicited commercial communication. In case, any such subscriber is sending commercial communication, telecom resources of the sender may be put under usage cap; and if the Subscriber continues to send Commercial Communication despite notice given to him, all telecom resources of the sender may also be disconnected.

Penalties for sending UCC

If any sender is engaged in sending unsolicited commercial communications from 10 digit number and complaint received against it then, service providers are bound to take action against such sender as under: -

• for first instance of violation, a warning shall be given
• for the second instance of violation, Usage Cap shall continue for a period of six months;
• for third and subsequent instances of violations, all telecom resources of the sender shall be disconnected for a period up to two years and access provider shall put the sender under blacklist category and communicate to all other access providers to not to allocate new telecom resources to such sender for up to two years from the date of such communication

What is not spam?

Calls or messages from registered senders are not spam or UCC. Different rules apply to these.

Some organisations can send you messages or calls without permission when such communication is in Public Interest. These include:

• Central Government or
• State Government or
• Bodies established under the Constitution

Measures to be taken to avoid UCC

• Don't tick subscribe boxes when completing online forms
• Don't provide mobile number to potential spamming source
• Register your preference to manage who can send commercial communication to you. Modes to register, modify or de-register your preference(s) includes
  • Sending SMS to short code 1909; or
  • Calling on 1909; or
  • Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS); or
  • Mobile app developed in this regard either by the Authority or by any other person or entity and
  • Approved by the Authority; or
  • Web portal with authentication though OTP; or
  • Any other means as may be prescribed by the Authority from time to time.
• Manage consent given to entities who are sending commercial communication. 
• To know the websites of Telecom Service providers, click here.

How to STOP getting SPAM messages

Firstly be aware of the Sender of the message to decide whether it is SPAM. You can enquire about the sending party information by typing the header details at the Header Information Portal. The Header Information Portal facilitates Customers to know the sender of Commercial and Government awareness communications. This portal may also help other principal entities to check whether any look-alike header is registered by any other entity. Anyone can query a particular header or download the complete list. TSPs can upload the list of alpha-numeric headers assigned to Principal Entities (Business or legal entities).

TRAI DND App

Do Not Disturb (DND 3.0) App enables smart phone users to register their mobile number under DND to avoid Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC)/ Telemarketing Calls / SMS. This is based on TRAI, “Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018”.

To view the TRAI’s UCC Regulations, Amendments, click here.

The app helps you to:-

• Set your DND preferences.
• Lodge a UCC complaint with your service provider.
• Check the status of complaints filed with your service provider.
• The App requires permission to access your address book to distinguish between calls/messages from your saved contacts and those from unknown telemarketers. You contact list is neither uploaded to the backend, nor shared in any manner.

To download the app, click here.

Modes to register complaint or report:-

• Send SMS to short code 1909. The format is The UCC, XXXXXXXXX, dd/mm/yy where XXXXXXXXXX is the telephone number or header of the UCC.or
• Call on 1909, or
• Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS), or
• Mobile app developed in this regard either by the Authority or by any other person or entity and approved by the Authority, or
• Web portal with authentication through One Time Password (OTP), or
• Any other means as may be notified by the Authority from time to time

Difference between making a complaint and reporting UCC or spam:

Any complaint made within 3 days from the date of UCC/Spam are considered valid complaints. These complaints are entitled for further investigation and may lead to action against senders. Ex. You receive UCC/Spam on 15/04/2023 so you must complain before 18/04/2023.

But complaints made beyond 3 days are considered Reports. These reports would not lead to action against the sender at first hand but would aid in finding such spammers proactively.

When you make a complaint, TSP will ask you for:

• Mode of communication
• Details of sender
• Date and Time of message or call
• Category of commercial communication
• Description of message or call

General terminologies to be aware of

What is a header?

Header means an alphanumeric string of maximum eleven characters or numbers assigned to an individual, business or legal entity under these regulations to send commercial communications.

Header is assigned to an individual, business or legal entity to send commercial communications.

Typical format and structure of the header with prefixes is as below:

XY- ABCDEF
X denotes TSP (OAP) Ex: A for Airtel, J for Jio, etc.
Y denotes License Service Area (LSA of OAP) Ex: D for Delhi
ABCDEF is a header assigned to the Principal Entity

Ex: VD-KOTAKB [ Vodafone Delhi - Kotak bank]

Source : TRAI