In order to put a check a check on SMSes coming from the international locations the telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued new directions to the telecom operators.

Some of the measures that the regulator has directed the operators to follow include that they should not allow international SMS containing alphabet header or alphanumeric header or +91 as originating country code to be delivered.

It has also asked the service providers not to allow more than two hundred SMS per hour with similar ‘signature’, to be delivered from any source or number from outside the country.

As per new directions operators will allow only valid codes associated with the network of those entities with whom agreements have been signed.

TRAI has asked the operators to take necessary steps to control this practice within 30 days.

Although TRAI had put limitations on the unsolicited calls and SMSes as per the provisions of “The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010” on 1.12.2010, which have come into force from 27thSeptember, 2011, these SMSes continued to come from overseas locations.

TRAI took serious note of this and discussed the issue with the telemarketers, access service providers and International Long Distance (ILD) operators to develop mechanism  to tackle this menace.

Some of the countries through which these SMS are being routed are Germany, Sweden, Nauru, Fiji, Cambodia, Bosnia, Albania, Grenada, UK, Jersey, Sint Maarten, Tonga, Vanuatu, Namibia, Panama, Antigua and Barbuda.