6.7 mn list with Do Not Call registry

Of the applicants, around 10,700 telemarketers have been registered and 7,100 applications were rejected by telecom service providers after preliminary verification. Around 3,000 applications are under process, TRAI said in a statement.

8220;A significant number of rejections are on account of duplicate requests and mismatch of numbers with other details given in the original application for obtaining connection. However, the telecom service providers have been asked to revisit the cases of rejection as such telemarketers may indulge in unauthorised or unverified calls outside the regulatory framework,8221; it said.

TRAI, which started the NDNC registration to crack the whip on unsolicitated calls on October 12, said the NDNC is being accessed by 500 telemarketers daily to get their calling lists verified.

Till date, a total of more than 380 million telephone numbers have been uploaded in the NDNC database by various telemarketers for verification. Out of this list, a total of 24.2 million numbers were in the category of 8216;Do Not Call numbers8217;, which these telemarketers are not allowed to call.

However, as per information provided by various telecom service providers, so far 3,685 subscribers who have listed themselves in NDNC registry have complained about receiving unsolicited commercial communication.

TRAI held a meeting on November 21 with all service providers to review the status of NDNC implementation. In the meeting it was emphasised that service providers will have to be more sensitive and vigilant toward handling complaints of subscribers who may be receiving unsolicited telemarketing calls and SMS even after 45 days of listing their telephone numbers in the registry.