3 weeks ago
TRAI mandates 1601-series numbers for utility, logistics service calls
India has a special group called TRAI that watches over phone calls.
They noticed that bad people were using normal phone numbers to pretend to be real companies.
To fix this, TRAI created special phone numbers that start with 1601.
Companies that deliver water, electricity, gas, or packages will use these numbers.
When people get a call from a 1601 number, they will know it is a real company calling.
The numbers are given directly to the companies, not to middlemen.
Companies are not allowed to use these numbers to sell things or advertise.
Phone companies have 90 days to set everything up.
This helps keep people safe from phone scams and fake calls.
TRAI directed telecom operators to onboard utilities, courier and logistics entities onto the new 1601-series for transactional and service voice calls.
The 1601-series extends the trusted numbering framework used by BFSI entities and government organisations, which currently use the 1600-series.
Phase-I covers electricity distributors, water utilities, city gas and LPG distributors, courier firms, express logistics and parcel delivery providers.
1601-series numbers will be allocated directly to eligible entities, not intermediaries or aggregators, after verification by telecom service providers.
The numbers cannot be used for promotional calls, and telecom operators must complete migration and onboarding within 90 days.
- Who
- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), telecom service providers, and eligible utilities, courier and logistics companies.
- What
- TRAI directed the use of the new 1601-series numbering framework for transactional and service voice calls by entities in the utilities, courier and logistics sectors.
- Where
- India; the directive was announced in New Delhi.
- When
- Monday, August 10, 2026.
- Why
- To help consumers identify genuine service and transactional calls and curb impersonation and fraud carried out through regular 10-digit mobile numbers.
TRAI's position
Truecaller's position
Tagging of dedicated 140 and 1600 number series
TRAI's position
TRAI says 1600-series numbers should never be tagged or labelled as spam because they carry service and transactional calls from regulated BFSI entities and government-to-citizen communication; it wants caller-ID apps to display a label pointing users to its Do Not Disturb app to block unwanted calls.
Truecaller's position
Truecaller alleged that spam calls surged after TRAI mandated the dedicated 140 and 1600 series while preventing caller-ID apps from displaying community-reported spam information for those numbers.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
- New numbering series
- 1601-series for non-BFSI, non-government sectors
- Series allocated by
- Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
- Existing series
- 1600-series, used by BFSI entities and government organisations
- Phase-I sectors
- Utilities (electricity, water, city gas, LPG) and courier/logistics
- Onboarding deadline
- 90 days for telecom operators
- Usage restriction
- 1601-series cannot be used for promotional voice calls
- Promotional call series
- 140-series for registered entities
- 1600-series call volume
- 1.15 billion calls in Q1 FY2026-27
Quotes
TRAI regulator
Representative of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
““After widespread adoption of the 1600‑series numbers for service and transactional calls by BFSI sector entities, which has provided valuable experience for extending the trusted numbering framework to the other sectors also, TRAI has now initiated phase‑wise implementation of the 1601‑series allotted by the DoT (Department of Telecom) for similar calls by the entities in sectors other than the BFSI sector and Government,””
theprint.in
“The distinct numbering identity will enable the consumers to easily identify legitimate service and transactional calls, thereby strengthening trust in such voice-based communications”
thehansindia.com
Sources
TRAI mandates 1601-series numbers for service calls from utilities, logistics firms
TRAI directs use of 1601-series for service, transactional calls by utilities, logistics cos
TRAI mandates 1601-series for service calls from utilities, logistics firms
TRAI Rolls Out 1601 Number Series For Utility, Courier & Logistics Calls
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