TRAI Blocks 1.48 Billion Promotional Calls as AI Flags 24.43 Billion Suspicious Calls and Messages in Major Anti-Spam Crackdown

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released its latest report highlighting significant progress in the fight against spam calls and unsolicited commercial communications (UCC).

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In the first quarter of the financial year 2026-27 (April to June 2026) telecommunication operators have blocked 1.48 billion promotional calls based on consumer demand for Do-Not-Disturb (DND) and the AI monitoring system is able to detect 24.43 billion suspicious calls and messages from telecom networks.

The figures demonstrate the huge scale of commercial communication in India and the growing penetration of artificial intelligence in protecting consumers from spam, fraud and unwanted telemarketing.

1.48 Billion Promotional Calls Blocked

According to TRAI, nearly 13.16 billion promotional calls were made with the dedicated 140 number series during the reporting period. Of these, around 1.48 billion calls were automatically blocked since recipients had registered their preferences under the DND framework.

The regulator explained that the DND system enables consumers to control the types of promotional communications they receive. Users who opt for DND protection can significantly reduce unwanted marketing calls while still choosing categories of commercial messages they are willing to accept.

The 140 number series was developed to improve transparency by allowing consumers to immediately find promotional and telemarketing calls before answering them.

AI Detects 24.43 Billion Suspicious Calls and Messages

The report’s most important finding is the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the security of telecoms which is in the future.

TRAI said its AI-driven monitoring system analysed massive amounts of telecom traffic during the quarter and successfully identified approximately 24.43 billion suspicious calls and messages. These were then restricted or blocked in line with regulatory guidelines and customer DND preferences.

Artificial intelligence is finding more and more applications in the detection of unusual calling patterns, the identification of spam and the response of telecom operators to malicious activities. It is not only manual detection that is effective but AI continuously analyses traffic data, allowing for faster detection of suspicious behaviour and better efficiency in anti-spam systems.

Service Calls Continue Through the 160 Number Series

In addition to promotional communications, the report also mentioned that around 1.15 billion calls were made using the 160 number series during the same period.

Unlike the 140 series, the 160 number range is reserved for service and transactional communications rather than marketing. Banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, government departments, healthcare providers, and other authorised organisations use these numbers to communicate important service-related information to customers.

Examples include banking alerts, insurance notifications, transaction confirmations, appointment reminders, government notifications, and other basic customer communications, among others.

TRAI said that separate numbering systems for promotional and service calls would help consumers distinguish genuine communications from advertising, thereby bringing greater transparency to the system and less confusion.

Commercial SMS Traffic Remains Enormous

The report also revealed the enormous scale of SMS-based commercial communication in India.

Registered businesses and authorised telemarketers sent about 248.06 billion commercial SMS messages in the April-June quarter. Of these, about 7.30 billion were promotional SMS messages.

TRAI said all registered entities need to comply with regulatory requirements, including obtaining consumer consent before sending promotional messages. Violators of these rules could be subject to regulation.

Experts Warn Consumers to Stay Vigilant

Although telecom monitoring has become much more sophisticated, cybersecurity experts warn consumers should remain on guard.

Fraudsters often use caller ID spoofing, fake telemarketing campaigns, phishing messages and impersonation scams to trick users into thinking these are the legitimate companies. Criminals often make fraudulent calls to make them look like they have the phone number in place and it’s dangerous to trust only the phone number.

Consumers should never share sensitive information such as OTPs, banking passwords, bank information (like OTPs, banking account information, debit or credit card information, CVV numbers, UPI PINs, Aadhaar, or internet banking account information) over phone calls or unsolicited messages, experts say.

Even if the caller is a bank, government department, telecom operator, or financial institution, customers should independently verify the request using official customer service channels.

Technology and Consumer Awareness Go Hand in Hand

Industry experts say TRAI's new numbers show that artificial intelligence is an indispensable tool in combating spam communications. AI-driven traffic analysis and stronger telecom regulation and DND compliance is also working to reduce commercial spam across India.

But, experts say, technology is not enough to stop telecom fraud. Consumer awareness, prompt reporting of suspicious calls and responsible behaviour are just as important.

Users are encouraged to report spam calls and fraudulent messages through the complaint mechanisms of their telecom operator’s grievance mechanisms or complaint platforms at the carrier’s own complaint centers. These reports will help telecom companies see fraud patterns across the board and take immediate action to detect fraud patterns in real time and take action against it.

With digital communication increasing exponentially in India, TRAI’s new report emphasizes the need to combine technology with regulation and public awareness to create a safer telecom ecosystem. India’s telecom sector is constantly becoming more sophisticated and proactive in tackling unsolicited communications and cyber-enabled fraud with billions of spam calls and suspicious messages intercepted every quarter.