Perky SMSes likely to face fresh curbs

With usolicited commercial short messaging service (SMSes) becoming a big problem thanks to unregistered telemarketers, the government plans to soon come out with tighter rules to curb the menace. Manoj Gairola reports.

With usolicited commercial short messaging service (SMSes) becoming a big problem thanks to unregistered telemarketers, the government plans to soon come out with tighter rules to curb the menace.

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"Operators may be asked to stop sending SMSes from a number, if a large number of SMSes are sent simultaneously," said an official familiar with the development.

The problem started in July when the Delhi high court removed the 200 SMS/day limit through a mobile phone on personal communication, saying that current SMS spam guidelines infringe on the freedom of speech.

The limit was imposed in September last year by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). After the TRAI's decision, the number of unwanted bulk SMSes that a consumer received reduced significantly.

On August 3, the regulator issued a consultation paper on curbing the problem. The TRAI identified unregiatered telemarketers as the main source of the problem. The regulator is expected to come out with new regulations next week.