Smart Adoption of 140 and 1600 Series in the Indian Market

The Indian business market is in a blaze after the implementation of new TRAI guidelines for voice calls to control spam and fraud calls in the market. This step was taken to build a transparent and trackable process for all promotional and transactional calls made from regular mobile numbers. Regulatory bodies such as TRAI and RBI have initiated a new process to establish a clear distinction between promotional and transactional calls. All entities will be required to register and obtain a specific number series for these calls.

The goal is simple, to help users easily identify the nature of incoming calls and ensure that only verified entities can reach customers. As per the new mandate

• 📞 Promotional calls must use the 140 number series
• 📞 Transactional and service-related calls must use the 1600 series

This move requires all businesses, especially those in BFSI, NBFC, and other regulated sectors, to register and obtain the appropriate number series to remain compliant.

In this blog, we will break down how these changes impact businesses, how the 140 and 1600 number series work, and what steps you need to take to align with the new TRAI guidelines for voice calls. For personalized guidance, connect with go2market, your trusted VNO-licensed cloud telephony provider.

Why This Shift Was Needed

With the rise in spam, scam calls, and impersonation of bank officials, customer trust in unknown numbers has eroded. TRAI and RBI, recognizing the urgency, have collaborated to introduce a structured system that makes communication safe and verifiable.

Key goals of TRAI behind these new guidelines

• Prevent financial fraud through impersonation.
• Empower users to identify and respond to genuine calls.
• Create a compliant framework that all entities must follow.

Challenges Businesses Are Facing

• Lack of awareness about new guidelines.
• Delay in documentation or KYC rejections.
• Technical integration issues with their existing systems.
• Misuse of 10-digit numbers still creates confusion in the market.
• Incomplete knowledge about what changes to make to ensure compliance with your business calls.

Who Needs to Comply with These Guidelines

Who Can Get the 140 Number Series?

The 140 series is exclusively for promotional and telemarketing calls. It is intended to help customers easily identify marketing communications and prevent spam from unverified 10-digit mobile numbers.

Who can get the 140 Series

• All businesses and industries (across sectors)
• Marketing agencies and sales teams
• E-commerce platforms
• EdTech companies
• Real estate firms
• Retail chains
• Any company making cold calls or promotional offers

Not Allowed

• This series cannot be used for transactional, service, or OTP-related calls.
• BFSI entities must use this to separate marketing and transactional traffic.

Who Can Get the 1600 Number Series?

The 1600 series is exclusively for transactional and service-related calls by organizations that fall under regulatory bodies like RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, and PFRDA.

Eligible Entities (Regulated Entities)

• Banks and Payment Providers (RBI-regulated)
• NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies)
• Insurance Providers (IRDAI-regulated)
• Mutual Funds and Investment Firms (SEBI-regulated)
• Pension Fund Organizations (PFRDA-regulated)

Important Notes

• These entities must be registered as a “Regulated Principal Entity” on the DLT platform.
• The 1600 series can only be used for service alerts, account updates, OTPs, reminders, etc.
• Promotional communication must still be made from the 140 series, even by BFSI organizations.

How Go2Market Helps Businesses Implement the 140 and 1600 Series

VNO-Licensed Service Provider - We are a VNO-licensed cloud telephony provider recognized by TRAI, giving us the authority and infrastructure to offer regulated telecom services like 140 and 1600 number series.

First-Hand Implementation Experience - Go2Market is already implementing the 1600 series for BFSI clients, giving us practical expertise in the process, documentation, and troubleshooting.

End-to-End Compliance Management - We handle documentation, compliance requirements, and post-approval integration of the 140/1600 series, ensuring your business stays compliant with minimal effort.

DLT & PE Registration Support - We help you register on the DLT platform as a Principal or Regulated Entity and assist with all documentation, DKYC, and authorized signatory requirements.

140 & 1600 Number Procurement - From eligibility assessment to provisioning, we ensure fast and compliant procurement of the required number series for both promotional and transactional/service calls.

Seamless Integration - If you're already using Go2Market’s IVR or Cloud Call Center solutions, onboarding the 140 and 1600 series becomes much faster. Our infrastructure allows direct integration with your existing CRMs to ensure a smooth transition.

Robust Infrastructure for Secure Calling - Our backend is designed for secure, scalable, and compliant voice communication, making it easier for BFSI entities to meet regulatory expectations.

Voice Template Creation & Approval - We help our clients get their voice call templates approved from DLT as per TRAI's guidelines, ensuring your calls don't get blocked.

Step-by-Step Process: How Businesses Can Procure & Implement 140 & 1600 Series

1. Entity Classification - Businesses first assess if they fall under a regulated category. BFSI entities are the primary target group for 1600 series adoption.
2. DLT Registration as Principal Entity (PE) - Organizations must register with any DLT platform (e.g., Vodafone, Airtel, Jio) as a Principal Entity (PE) or Regulated Entity (RE).
3. Choose a VNO/TSP Partner - Businesses select a licensed VNO like Go2Market for voice infrastructure setup, number provisioning, and compliance support.
4. Documentation and KYC - Submission of company documents, regulatory certificates (like IRDAI/SEBI license), and Digital KYC (D-KYC) for verification.
5. Number Procurement & Mapping - Entities receive their 1600 (or 140) number series and link it to their approved voice templates and call flow.
6. Template Registration (for Voice) - Just like SMS templates, organizations now register voice call templates to prevent misuse and ensure transparency.
7. Start Calling, Stay Compliant - Once approved, businesses can start making verified, traceable calls, improving answer rates and customer confidence.

Conclusion,

The adoption of 140 and 1600 number series marks a major leap forward in making Indian business communication more secure, compliant, and customer-friendly. While the transition may seem complex, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial effort. Make your business calls secure and compliant as per the TRAI guidelines to avoid penalties. For more information about this shift and the implementation process, connect with Go2Market at 8595080808 or visit www.go2market.in.