Trai tightens norms for mobile VAS

In a major relief to scores of mobile phone users, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Wednesday tightened the norms for activation of mobile value added service.

According to guidelines, operators have to take double confirmation from consumers before activating value-added services (VAS) and must complete de-activation requests in four hours. The regulator stepped in to address VAS issues after it received number of complaints that telecom companies starts VAS without the approval of consumers.

"The service provider has to provide a system which takes a second consent from the customer before providing a value added service through any means," the regulator said in a statement. According to Trai, the operators can take the first consent of the consumer on their platform but for the second consent, a dedicated gateway, which is owned by a third party, has to be set up to take the final confirmation.

"The first offer of a service is on the service providers’ platform and a second confirmation from the customer is through a dedicated consent gateway which is owned by a third party and not by the service provider," Trai said.

"It is only after receiving a second confirmation from the customer, that the service provider shall activate the value added service," it added. Trai said VAS activation procedure will include all forms of activation such as outbound dialling (OBD), SMS, Mobile Internet, interactive voice response system, tele-calling, unstructured supplementary services data (USSD) among other modes.

Trai also mandated de-activation requests should be completed in four hours. The deactivation procedure should be publicised through media advertisements.