Trai’s Weak Powers Leave It Struggling To Curb Spam And Enforce Quality Rules
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Summary: Even with fines, many penalties remain unpaid because TRAI lacks the power to enforce telecom regulations properly.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), responsible for telecom in India, has increased efforts against carriers for failing to reduce spam calls and improve service quality; however, it faces a major challenge: it lacks sufficient authority.
In the year ending March 2025, TRAI imposed ₹45 crore in penalties on telecom companies for issues ranging from unchecked spam to quality-of-service lapses. But according to a recent audit, only about 3 per cent of those fines were actually recovered — roughly ₹1.37 crore — leaving the regulator’s enforcement drive largely symbolic.
A big reason for this gap is legal and structural. Unlike stronger regulators such as SEBI or the RBI, TRAI has limited authority. It can levy penalties and give directions, but it cannot unilaterally execute them or take more drastic measures such as seizing assets or requiring payments – at least not without the involvement of courts or other government entities. Telecom companies frequently challenge TRAI’s orders in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), which delays enforcement and weakens regulatory impact.
While TRAI has fined operators — including big names such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea — for failing to block unwanted communications, most of those penalties remain unpaid because companies take the matter to the tribunal and await stays on enforcement.
Industry experts argue that stronger enforcement powers could make a real difference. Giving TRAI the authority to directly collect payments, acquire bank guarantees, and even terminate licenses would make it more difficult for operators to evade penalties and push them to comply more closely.
Despite multiple initiatives, telecom subscribers continue to report spam calls and SMS. While some government officials point to targeted steps against spam aggregators, the overall picture indicates that regulatory efforts have yet to result in a major reduction in the problem on the ground.
The TRAI has proposed changes to its basic statute to increase its authority and reduce reliance on external agencies for enforcement, but progress has been slow.
