The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (‘TRAI’) has, by a notification dated January 16, 2020, amended the Telecommunication Consumers Education and Protection Fund Regulations, 2007 which provides a basic framework for depositing unclaimed money of consumers by service providers, maintenance of the Telecommunication Consumers Education and Protection Fund (‘TCEPF’) and other related aspects. TRAI has clarified that telecom service providers will be required to deposit any unclaimed consumer money of any form (such as excess charges, security deposit, plan charges of failed activations, or any amount belonging to a consumer), which the service providers are unable to refund to their consumers, to the TCEPF, after providing a time of 12 months from the date on which such amount became due for refund or period of limitation specified under law, whichever is later.