Service and Transaction Calls To Originate from 160 Number Series Soon: DoT

Moneylife Digital Team 29 May 2024

Consumer Interest

In a positive move to help people distinguish between essential calls and spam, the department of telecom (DoT) has allocated a separate 10-digit numbering series starting with 160 for service and transactional calls made by government, regulators and financial entities. All incoming calls related to services and transactions will begin with the 160 code and help subscribers decide which calls to answer and which ones to avoid.

According to an office memorandum issued by DoT, the 10-digit number series has been designed to give subscribers an idea about calling entities as well as the telecom operator and the place from where the call has originated.

"It has been decided to allocate a separate numbering series 160 exclusively for service and transactional voice calls as per Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR) 2018," the official note said.

The 10-digit number series will use the 1600ABCXXX format for government authorities. In this format, 'AB' denotes the code for a telecom circle or licensing service area (LSA) of a telecom operator and 'C' for the telecom service provider (TSP) code. The last 'XXX' will be numbers ranging from 000 to 999, assigned to the services provider or regulatory bodies. Here is an example of how the actual code would appear for the Mumbai circle, 1600223999.

Financial entities regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) will use a number format of 1601ABCXXX.

DoT says, "The TSP will ensure adequate verification of each and every entity before assigning a number from 160 series. The TSP will obtain an undertaking from the seeking entity that it will use the number assigned from the 160 series exclusively for service and transactional voice calls as per the TCCCPR only. The TSP will make it clear to the entity that it will be responsible for the proper and bonafide user of the assigned number from the 160 series."

Separately, DoT says as of 27 May 2024, it has blacklisted eight SMS headers of principal entities while blacklisting 73 SMS headers and 1,522 content templates involved in telemarketing or unwanted commercial communication (UCC).

Meanwhile, the Indian government has issued directions for blocking incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers. The incoming international spoofed calls with Indian landline numbers are already being blocked by TSPs as per the directions issued by DoT.

Comments