NEW DELHI: Around 161.66 million customers have registered their preference on the National Customer Preference Register (NCPR) to stop receiving unsolicited commercial calls or SMSs.

A total of 36,156 subscribers have been issued notices, 22,769 subscribers have been disconnected while 94 telemarketers have been penalised and four telemarketers have been blacklisted as of now.

The NCPR had come into force from 27 September last year under "The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2010" issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on 1 December 2010.

Under its provisions, telecom consumers who do not wish to receive unsolicited commercial call or SMSs may register their preference(s) on NCPR.

TRAI is also monitoring and enforcing the regulations for protection of customers from unsolicited commercial calls and SMSs. If unsolicited commercial calls and SMSs are sent from individual numbers, notice will be served to the customer and his number will be disconnected on second violation. Registered subscribers receiving UCC may lodge their complaint by dialing or sending SMS to 1909.