The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and Bharti Airtel have called for cross-platform and sectoral signal sharing to tackle fraud and spam in telecom and digital messaging. The push was highlighted during an event hosted by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on AI and telecom, where officials emphasized the need for collaboration between telecom operators, internet messaging platforms, and banking services to address fraud that spans multiple domains.
Sanjay Kumar, Joint Advisor at TRAI, explained that telecom operators can only detect fraud signals within their communication layer, while the later stages involving messaging platforms and banking transactions remain outside their visibility. Rahul Vatts, Airtel’s Director of Corporate Affairs and COAI Chairman, stressed the importance of fixing responsibility across sectors and sharing signals to create a comprehensive safety envelope around customers. Both representatives underscored that fraud moves across domains, requiring a sector-wise approach to detection and prevention.
This initiative reflects growing concerns over fraud that exploits gaps between telecom networks, over-the-top (OTT) messaging platforms, and financial services. By encouraging signal sharing, TRAI and Airtel aim to close these gaps and enhance consumer protection. The approach aligns with global trends where regulators and operators collaborate to address increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes that leverage multiple communication and transaction channels.
The COAI event also included participation from the British High Commission, indicating international interest in these efforts. TRAI’s advocacy for cross-sector signal sharing marks a step toward integrated fraud detection frameworks, which could influence regulatory policies and operational practices in India’s telecom and digital service sectors.