Dear Comrades,
The telecom regulatory authority of India’s cap on SMS has claimed an unsuspecting victim — the government’s information dissemination machinery — and triggered a wave of confusion and questions.
Several government ministries, including that of the external affairs and home affairs and other departments that use SMS to disseminate information about developments are baffled by the TRAI order as they have been caught totally unaware.
“We didn’t expect the government’s own services would be affected,” a senior government official said.
On the other hand, Trai said government ministries that are using bulk SMS for public service can be exempted and they would only be required to make a presentation to it on the issue.
A senior official in the external affairs ministry said they are in touch with their service provider and are trying to work a way out. “Our messaging service has been affected. It will take some time to get the matter sorted out,” the official said.
At the moment the ministry of external affairs (MEA) is relying on e-mails and direct telephone calls. The MEA has one of the largest databases of Indian and foreign journalists working in India.
Their active SMS database contains over 300 mobile phone numbers.
The cap on SMS has affected even the Press Information Bureau (PIB). “Our bulk SMS service has been affected and we are trying to resolve the issue,” a senior PIB official told DNA late Wednesday evening.
Conflicting reactions have emerged from other ministries. Senior officials in the home ministry said they are yet to get any instructions about disseminating information bulk through SMS.
Several other SMS centres being operated in public interest by government bodies such as the traffic police have also become non-functional, and are seeking clarification.
dnaindia.com
