TRAI Clarifies Definitions of International and Domestic SMS Traffic

December 11, 2024

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently clarified the definitions of international and domestic SMS traffic, which follows a request from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in August 2022. TRAI aimed to provide clear guidelines to improve regulatory understanding and compliance.

Definition of International Traffic

International Traffic involves communications that begin in one country and conclude in another. One of these countries must be India. This definition helps delineate cross-border communication for regulatory purposes.

An International SMS Message is classified as any SMS that falls under international traffic. This includes messages delivered through SMS services that cross national borders.

Application-to-Person (A2P) Messaging

Any SMS sent from an application to a person is considered international if it involves any electronic device, computer system, or application located outside India. This rule captures the growing trend of A2P messaging in a global context.

Definition of Domestic Traffic

Domestic Traffic refers to communications that both originate and conclude within India. This encompasses all forms of communication, including voice calls and SMS.

Domestic SMS refers specifically to SMS messages that are delivered as part of domestic traffic. These messages do not cross international borders and are fully contained within the Indian telecommunications network.

Stakeholder Engagement

TRAI released a consultation paper on May 2, 2023, to gather insights from various stakeholders. A total of 20 stakeholders provided comments, and seven offered counter-comments. A discussion took place on August 24, 2023, to further refine the recommendations based on this feedback.

After analysing the feedback and conducting discussions, TRAI has finalised its recommendations. These definitions aim to enhance clarity and promote better regulation in the telecommunications sector.

GKToday Facts for Exams:
TRAI TRAI stands for Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. It regulates telecommunications in India. Established in 1997, it aims to promote fair competition and protect consumer interests.
A2P Messaging Application-to-Person (A2P) Messaging involves messages sent from applications to individuals. This messaging type is crucial for businesses. It facilitates communication for alerts, promotions, and notifications globally.
DoT The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is a government body in India. It formulates policies for the telecommunications sector. Established in 1985, it oversees the implementation of telecom regulations.

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