How TRAI plans to use blockchain technology to check spam calls, messages

Even after multiple efforts by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) such as DND service and various blocking apps, spam calls and messages still causes troubles to mobile users.

After the failure of every other method, TRAI has now decided to use the blockchain technology to solve the perennial issue of unwanted calls and text messages by telemarketers.

TRAI chairman RS Sharma today issued new draft norms in this regard and said blockchain technology will ensure non repudiation and confidentiality of mobile users data. Through the new technology, only authorised parties will be able to access subscriber details and only when they need to deliver service... Trai will become first organisation to implement this kind of regulation.

To capturing customer consent for information and authorised telemarketing agencies, the new technology based norms will record all communication between subscribers and entities.

The technology will also check the unscrupulous methods that telemarketers use such as registering with telecom companies to obtain subscriber details. With the new system in place, only authorised agencies will be able to access details of only those subscribers who have agreed to receive the message and deliver the service.

Besides, the draft also proposes to check misuse of repeated unsolicited calls being made even to those subscribers who have given consent. Under the proposed regulation, the subscriber will be able to revoke consent given to entities whenever he or she desires through Trai app and other mechanism.

With the rising use case of blockchain technology, telecom operators in India is also planning to launch some research in the segment.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Reliance Jio are assessing the use of blockchain technology that will create new revenue streams and lower operational costs for the companies.

Vodafone India, which is working with IBM in blockchain technology, is already at the proof of concept (PoC) stage. Another competitor Airtel is doing initial trials in the technology. And the market leader Jio is developing new use-cases and applications via blockchain.

Experts believe that the introduction of blockchain use cases by telecom operators will be the prime use of the technology when it will become rampant in every walk of life.

The development was first reported by ET.