TRAI Grants One-Month Extension to Access Providers for Whitelisting Compliance

New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced a one-month extension for Access Providers to comply with its recent directive regarding the whitelisting of URLs, APKs, and OTT links. The original Direction, issued on August 20, 2024, mandated that all Access Providers ensure that any traffic containing non-whitelisted URLs, APKs, or OTT links be blocked by October 1, 2024.

This extension comes in response to requests from Access Providers, who sought additional time to meet the new compliance requirements. The TRAI’s decision reflects its recognition of the technical and operational challenges faced by the telecom industry in implementing these measures.

The revised Direction is part of TRAI’s broader effort to enhance the security and efficiency of India’s telecom ecosystem. By restricting non-whitelisted URLs, APKs, and OTT links, TRAI aims to prevent the misuse of Headers and Content Templates, which has been a growing concern in the industry.

In addition to the whitelisting mandate, TRAI has noted the concerns raised by Access Providers regarding the implementation of callback numbers. The timeline for this implementation will be set separately, following further discussions with the stakeholders.

TRAI has directed all Access Providers to submit an updated status report on their progress within the next fifteen days. Additionally, a full compliance report is expected within thirty days from the date of this new Direction.

This development marks a significant step in TRAI’s ongoing efforts to regulate and secure the rapidly evolving telecom sector in India. The Authority remains committed to working closely with Access Providers to ensure a smooth transition to these new regulations.