The Telecom Regulator Authority of India, TRAI, has directed telecom companies to de-activate the international calling facility in pre-paid numbers and restore it only after a subscriber gives his or her explicit consent to avail the facility.

The directive follows complaints from consumers about missed calls from international telephone numbers, which are often premium numbers charging high tariff, prompting the consumers to call back. The TRAI has asked the companies to inform all pre-paid subscribers having ISD facility, through SMS, within 10 days of the direction that the facility should be discontinued after sixty days.

It added that if such subscribers want to continue with the facility, they should give their clear and exact consent for availing such facility within 60 days of the receipt of the SMS.

The telecom regulator has also been getting complaints from consumers about receiving calls and SMSes from international numbers informing them about winning prizes or lottery, thus prompting them to call a particular number to claim the prize or lottery money.

It has asked the telecom operators to inform subscribers through SMS, within 10 days of the direction that pre-paid cellular mobile telephone service consumers need not respond to all missed calls from unknown international numbers or calls about winning prizes or lottery.