Smartphone users in India are about to witness a significant change as the Indian Telecom Department is set to discontinue a service related to calling starting from Monday. This step has been taken by the department to curb spam and fraud.
Order Issued by DoT
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has decided to shut down all types of USSD-based call forwarding services for mobile phones. This service will remain closed until further orders from the department.
Explanation of USSD Call Forwarding
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) call forwarding service allows users to obtain necessary information by dialing specific codes such as *121#, *#99#, or *401#. Typically, this service is used to obtain information related to IMEI numbers or mobile data. Through this feature, incoming calls can be redirected from one number to another.
The decision to end USSD call forwarding services comes in the wake of observed misuse and fraudulent activities associated with the service. Consequently, telecom companies have been instructed to comply with the order. Users will now be provided with alternative and new options for call forwarding.
This move by the Indian Telecom Department reflects its commitment to tackling cybercrime and ensuring the security and privacy of smartphone users in the country. As of April 15, users should be prepared for the discontinuation of USSD-based call forwarding services and explore alternative methods for their call management needs.