NTRA launches new rules to regulate telemarketers and spam calls
The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has unveiled a new set of regulatory and technical measures aimed at increasing transparency in communications and giving users greater control over incoming calls.
The initiative focuses on helping citizens better identify callers—whether through mobile or landline phones—and marks a major step in the ongoing fight against nuisance and promotional calls.
The NTRA announced the changes in a press release on Monday, emphasizing that the updates are part of broader efforts to protect the privacy of telecommunications users and to tackle persistent disturbances caused by unsolicited calls.
One of the key updates is the launch of a caller ID feature for landline phones, which allows users to view the name of the calling party—including entities making promotional calls—before answering. The measure is expected to help individuals make informed decisions about which calls to accept.
In a further upgrade, the caller identification system has been expanded to display not just the caller’s name but also their role or occupation. This is particularly relevant for calls coming from journalists, delivery service personnel, or individuals working in donation campaigns. The enhancement aims to distinguish such legitimate calls from unwanted telemarketing attempts.
The NTRA has also outlined tough penalties for violations. Any device found to be using unregistered lines for promotional calls more than once to make nuisance calls will be deactivated across all networks in Egypt.
In cases where the user attempts to bypass the restriction by reactivating the device with another unregistered line and continues making nuisance calls, the phone will be permanently blocked and rendered inoperable on any Egyptian telecom network.
Additionally, individuals proven to have used unauthorized lines for marketing purposes will be permanently banned from obtaining new lines, even for personal use. The regulator said this step is crucial to ensuring adherence to its privacy-protection framework.
These new rules build on earlier regulations issued in July 2024, which required anyone making promotional or commercial calls to register their details with mobile operators and legally activate the relevant service. Under those rules, callers must also ensure that recipients are informed of the nature of the call, either through the display of the entity’s name or a prior warning label such as “NTRA Alert.”
The authority stressed its commitment to strict enforcement and ongoing collaboration with telecom providers to uphold these measures. Citizens are also encouraged to report any violations or nuisance calls through telecom operators’ customer service channels or directly via the NTRA’s call center.
The move is seen as a significant advancement in regulating Egypt’s telecommunications environment and reflects growing demand for better consumer protection in the face of rising privacy concerns.