What Is International Traffic? TRAI Explains

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the 'Definition of International Traffic,' in an official statement on Tuesday.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India had requested TRAI to submit recommendations on the definition of International SMS and Domestic SMS.

The DoT made the request through a reference dated 30.08.2022.

A consultation paper called 'Definition of International Traffic' was released on 02.05.2023, soliciting comments of stakeholders. The regulator has now finalized recommendations on the same.

'International Traffic' should be defined in the relevant telecommunication service licenses and authorizations, TRAI said in the release.

The regulator added that International Traffic means the traffic that originates in one country and terminates in another country, where one of the countries is India.

TRAI also defined Intranational SMS Message as the International Traffic delivered using SMS.

"Any incoming application to person (A2P) SMS message shall be treated as an international SMS message, if it cannot be generated, transmitted or received without the use or intervention of any electronic device, computer system or computer application located outside India," TRAI added.

Additionally, TRAI also defined Domestic Traffic as traffic originating and terminating within India.

Further, Domestic SMS means the Domestic Traffic delivered using SMS, the regulator added.