New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued its recommendations on the definition of international traffic, a move aimed at bringing clarity and consistency to telecommunications licensing and operations in India. The recommendations provide specific definitions for international and domestic SMS traffic, ensuring regulatory precision and addressing technological nuances.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, requested TRAI’s recommendations under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997, via a reference dated August 30, 2022. The focus was on defining international SMS and domestic SMS within the framework of telecommunication service licenses.
TRAI initiated stakeholder consultation by releasing a paper titled “Definition of International Traffic” on May 2, 2023. This consultation attracted comments from 20 stakeholders and counter-comments from seven. Subsequently, an open house discussion was conducted on August 24, 2023. Based on stakeholder input and its analysis, TRAI has finalized the recommendations.
Salient Points of the Recommendations
- Definition of International Traffic: The term “International Traffic” should be defined in telecommunications service licenses and authorizations as: “Traffic originating in one country and terminating in another country, where one of the countries is India.”
- Definition of International SMS Message: The term “International SMS Message” should be defined as: “The international traffic delivered using SMS.”
- Explanation for International SMS Message: Under the definition of international SMS, the following explanation should be included: “Any incoming application to person (A2P) SMS message shall be treated as an international SMS message, if it cannot be generated, transmitted or received without the use or intervention of any electronic device, computer system or computer application located outside India.”
- Definition of Domestic Traffic: The term “Domestic Traffic” should be defined as: “Traffic originating and terminating within India.”
- Definition of Domestic SMS: The term “Domestic SMS” should be defined as: “The domestic traffic delivered using SMS.”
Implications of the Recommendations
These recommendations enhance the regulatory framework, providing much-needed clarity to the telecommunications sector, which plays a pivotal role in India’s digital economy. By addressing ambiguities in SMS traffic classification, TRAI ensures smoother licensing processes and operational practices for service providers.
With 1,163.83 million wireless subscribers and 36.23 million wireline subscribers as of 31 August 2024, India is the world’s second-largest telecommunications market.
SMS remains a critical mode of communication, especially for businesses leveraging international messaging for customer engagement. Unlike other communication methods, such as email or OTT messaging, SMS guarantees compatibility across feature phones and smartphones, ensuring global reach and reliability.
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