TRAI decides no charges for SMS and Cell Broadcast Alerts during disasters

Tags: National

The Telecom sector regulator TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) in an order issued on 7 December 2022 has decided that no charges will be levied on SMS/message broadcasted through Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) during the time of disasters. CAP is a platform that enables an SMS or a cell broadcast to be targeted at a particular region or area.

The TRAI order came after the Department of Telecom, under the Union Ministry of Communications requested TRAI to suggest a charge for the SMS broadcasted through the CAP during both at the times of disaster and non-disaster. 

TRAI said that considering the significance of alerts or messages sent as per direction issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the authority has decided that no charges will be levied for such SMS/cell broadcast alerts or messages.

According to TRAI order, the SMS or cell broadcast sent during the disaster or non-disaster situation without any direction issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, will carry a charge of 2 paise per SMS.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India was set up by the Government of India in 1997 under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.

It was set up to regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier vested in the Central Government.

Headquarters: New Delhi 

Current Chairman: Ram Sewak Sharma