Representative (Photo: Shutterstock)
The Telecom Ministry has asked telecom operators to deactivate USSD-based call forwarding with effect from April 15 and switch to alternative methods to reactivate it, an official order said.
Mobile subscribers use the USSD service by simply dialing an active code on their phone screen. The service is often used to check IMEI numbers and mobile phone balances, among other things.
The order has been issued to check fraud and online crimes committed through mobile phones.
In an order dated March 28, the DoT said it has concluded that USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) based forwarding facility, the most famous *401# services for unconditional forwarding services, is being misused for a number of unwarranted activities. .
“In this regard, it has been decided by the competent authority that all licensees will discontinue the existing USSD-based forwarding services with effect from April 15, 2024 until further notice.
“All existing subscribers who have activated the USSD-based forwarding service may be asked to reactivate the forwarding services through alternative methods to ensure that such services are not activated without their notice,” the order said.
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First print: March 30, 2024 | 12:36 pm IST