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    Telcos review blockchain tech to tackle pesky calls

    Synopsis

    Trai’s new rules to quell pesky calls stated that telecom operators are required to deploy blockchain-based technology to prevent unauthorized access of subscribers data, make system non-repudiative and enhance confidentiality.

    pesky-calls-AgeciesAgencies
    The regulator had said that UCC or spam calls are a major nuisance to telecom subscribers across the country and has been working with stakeholders to curb this menace.
    Mobile phone operators are currently reviewing blockchain technology-based solutions to curb unsolicited commercial communication (UCC), or pesky calls and SMSes, as recommended by the telecom regulator.

    “We are currently looking at presentations from various vendors on their blockchain technology-based solutions, and taking their perspective on the solution and its cost and approach to the whole issue,” Rajan Mathews, director-general at Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), told ET. “We understand the technology. The question is to pull everything together and get everybody under the same umbrella. The implementation is where the rubber meets the road. We are focusing on this, and meeting all the vendors,” Mathews said.

    COAI represents all major telcos in India, including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, Idea Cellular and Reliance Jio.

    Mathews’ comments come after software major Microsoft and Tech Mahindra earlier in the day said they had joined forces to create a blockchain technology-based solution to curb the menace of pesky calls and SMSes as recommended by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

    Both companies have been jointly working with Trai on this issue since the time this regulation was being formally structured and have designed this solution post a series of collective sessions with the regulator and multiple stakeholders in the value chain.

    Trai’s new rules to quell pesky calls stated that telecom operators are required to deploy blockchain-based technology to prevent unauthorized access of subscribers data, make system non-repudiative and enhance confidentiality.

    The regulator had said that UCC or spam calls are a major nuisance to telecom subscribers across the country and has been working with stakeholders to curb this menace. The regulator had established a ‘do not disturb’ (DND) registry in 2010, however, while the registry has more than 23 crore subscribers, unregistered telemarketers continue to spam customers, obtaining their consent through fraudulent tactics.

    “Blockchain as a technology is a powerful tool to combat the issue of spam calls and fraud risks to protect user information, as well as the integrity of the telecom sector. This distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based solution will enable enterprises to stop financial frauds and perpetration of misleading financial information by unregistered telecom marketers who rampantly use the SMS service of telcos,” said Rajesh Dhuddu, global practice leader-blockchain at Tech Mahindra.


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