TRAI Releases “Draft Telecom Commercial Communication Preference
(Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026” for Consultation
Key Points
·
Background:
o Original framework: TCCCPR, 2018 (to curb Unsolicited Commercial Communications
– UCC).
o Amended earlier in Dec 2018 and Feb 2025.
·
New Draft (2026):
o Issued for public consultation.
o Incorporates feedback from stakeholders and recent developments.
o Focus on AI-based detection of UCC already implemented by major access
providers.
o Aims to make regulatory framework more effective and efficient.
·
Consultation Process:
o Draft available at www.trai.gov.in.
o Written comments deadline: 12 April 2026.
o Counter comments deadline: 27 April 2026.
o Contact: Shri Deepak Sharma, Advisor (QoS-2) – advqos@trai.gov.in / +91-11-20907760.
This amendment is part of TRAI’s ongoing effort to strengthen consumer
protection against spam/UCC, leveraging AI-driven monitoring, stricter compliance,
and stakeholder input to refine India’s telecom regulatory framework.
[ABS News Service/14.03.2026]
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 13 March, 2026 issued
the draft “Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference (Third Amendment)
Regulations, 2026, for consultation.
To curb the menace of Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC). TRAI issued
Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR,2018)
on 19th July, 2018, which put in place a framework for regulating Commercial Communication.
The TCCCPR, 2018 was amended on 21st December, 2018 and subsequently, second amendment
was issued on 12th February 2025.
Based on the feedback from stakeholders during various interactions well
as in light of recent developments like implementation of AI-based detection of
UCC, by major access providers, a need has been felt to make amendments in some
of the existing provisions, and also to add some new provisions to make the regulatory
framework more effective and efficient.
The Draft Telecom Commercial Communication Preference (Third Amendment) Regulations,
2026, has been placed on TRAI's website www.trai.gov.in, seeking comments from the
stakeholders. The written comments on the issues raised in the Draft amendment,
and counter comments, if any, may be sent preferably by mail to advqos@trai.gov.in,
in the specified format, by 12th April, 2026, and 27th April, 2026, respectively.
For any clarification/ information, Deepak Sharma, Advisor (QoS-2), may be
contacted at advqos@trai.gov.in or +91-11-20907760.