Indian mobile users may encounter disruptions in receiving One-Time Passwords (OTPs) as major telecom companies in the country, such as Airtel, Vodafone-Idea, and Reliance Jio, are under pressure to meet a critical deadline set by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The new rules introduced by TRAI require telecom operators to trace the source of all commercial messages, including OTPs, to crack down on fraudulent activities like spam and phishing messages. By being able to attribute messages to their source, telecom providers can effectively block malicious communications, hence safeguarding users against scams.
With the extended deadline of December 1, 2024, looming, telecom operators are tasked with ensuring compliance with the new regulations to prevent potential disruptions in OTP delivery. Failure to meet the deadline could lead to widespread delays or even blockages of OTPs, impacting crucial services that heavily rely on OTPs for secure authentication, such as online banking, e-commerce transactions, and social media logins. TRAI has laid out a phased implementation timeline, with warnings being issued to non-compliant entities until November 30, followed by complete blocking of messages from December 1 onwards for those failing to adhere to the chain declaration requirements.
While the implementation of these rules is expected to bolster consumer security in the long term, it may result in temporary challenges for users in receiving OTPs for essential online activities. To mitigate risks during this transition period, users are advised to adopt proactive measures such as enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), remaining vigilant against phishing attempts, and maintaining strong device security practices. TRAI's traceability framework, aimed at identifying the origins of messages, forms part of a broader initiative to protect consumers from spam and fraud, ultimately striving to create a more secure digital ecosystem in India.