Starting October 1, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will enforce new regulations to control the use of unauthorized URLs in mobile messages. According to the upcoming rule, only authorized senders will be permitted to include URLs, Android Package Kits (APKs), or Over-The-Top (OTT) links in their messages. This measure aims to strengthen communication security and protect consumers from potentially harmful or unwanted link-based messages.

On August 20, TRAI directed all access providers to block message traffic containing URLs, APKs, or OTT links that are not part of an authorized whitelist.

Registered senders have been advised to upload their whitelisted links on the portals of access providers to ensure smooth SMS traffic. So far, over 3,000 registered senders have complied with this directive, whitelisting more than 70,000 links. Any sender who fails to whitelist their links before the deadline will be barred from sending messages containing such links.

This initiative seeks to protect consumers from unsolicited and harmful messages while promoting a safer and more transparent communication system. By adhering to the new guidelines, access providers and registered senders will contribute to a more secure messaging environment.