Telcos, retailers clash with TRAI over consent regime as 40-45 paise per-consent fee threatens 2.8L entities

India's digital consent framework for commercial SMS and calls has triggered a standoff between telcos (Airtel, Jio, Vi) and businesses including banks, e-commerce and retailers. TRAI's proposed 40-45 paise per-consent charge and disputes over consent ownership affect 280,000+ registered entities, with HDFC alone citing Rs 4.8 crore in annual costs across 120 million customers.

— Source publishedMon, 15 Jun, 2026, 00:31 IST·First seen Mon, 15 Jun, 2026, 13:40 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

Telcos and businesses including banks, e-commerce and retailers clash over India's digital consent framework for commercial SMS/calls. TRAI faces disputes on

Key facts

  • 40-45 paise per consent
  • 280,000 registered entities
  • 120 million HDFC customers
  • Rs 4.8 crore annual cost
  • 32,042 blacklisted entities
  • Rs 15 per quarter SMS fee

Why this matters

The consent-ownership fight reshuffles who controls the customer graph between telcos and brands, opening partnership and first-party data plays for anyone building owned channels.