79 Percent Indians Avoid Unknown Business Calls, Reveals Truecaller and Tata Tele Business Services Report
percent avoid answering unknown numbers Voice remains India’s most trusted channel; spam, poor identity, and lack of clarity and customer control erode confidence Truecaller, the leading global communications platform, has released ' The State of Business Calling 2026 ' report, a comprehensive study on the role of voice calls as a customer engagement channel in India. Commissioned in partnership with Tata Tele Business Services (TTBS), with Kantar as the research partner, the insights of the report highlight that voice calls remain the most trusted and widely used channel for business communication in India. Truecaller and Tata Tele Business Services Report, in partnership with Kantar of businesses say customers actively avoid answering calls from unrecognized numbers. ), reassurance, urgency, or high-stakes interactions. The study reveals that despite emerging as the most trusted channel for business communication, ahead of email, SMS, and chat combined, voice is witnessing a quiet erosion in trust. Spam, lack of context, inconsistent caller identity, and poorly timed outreach have created a default reluctance among consumers that affects even legitimate, compliant businesses. Priyam Bose, Global Head, Truecaller for Business GTM (Go To Market) , said, “ India does not have a calling problem. It has a trust and attention problem. Consumers today expect to know who is calling, why they are calling, and whether it is worth their time. At Truecaller, we are focused on enabling verified identity and contextual communication to help businesses rebuild trust and improve engagement. Our report clearly reveals the opportunities for businesses to invest in the right customer experience.” ), verification symbols, and call-purpose previews. ), and emotional reassurance no automated channel can replicate. Voice is still being managed as a transactional channel and measured as a cost center, even though it functions as a relationship driver. While regulatory frameworks such as DLT and the use of 140 and 1600 number series aim to classify promotional and service calls, consumers may still receive essential service calls despite DND preferences, making recognisable identity and clear context critical to driving engagement. Vishal Rally, Chief Revenue Officer, Tata Teleservices , says, “ Voice remains an important channel for enterprise communication, particularly when immediacy and human connection matter most. As customer expectations evolve, businesses need secure, intelligent, and context-aware communication experiences. At TTBS, we are enabling enterprises with integrated voice and digital communication solutions that strengthen customer trust and engagement .” Voice continues to play a critical role across sectors where urgency, trust, or high-value decision-making are involved. BFSI and IT services rely heavily on voice for verification and compliance workflows, while e-commerce and logistics increasingly use voice alongside digital channels to manage transactional and support communication. click here . About Truecaller Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for 500 million active users worldwide, with more than one billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company is headquartered in Stockholm and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021. For more information, visit www.truecaller.com . About Tata Teleservices Tata Teleservices Limited along with its subsidiary Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited (NSE: TTML, BSE: 532371) (Tata Teleservices) is a growing market leader in the Enterprise space. It offers a comprehensive portfolio of Connectivity, Collaboration, Cloud & SaaS, Security, and Marketing solutions for businesses in the country under the brand name Tata Tele Business Services (TTBS). Tata Teleservices has an extensive, high quality and robust wireline network and offers its products and services in more than 60 cities across India. Tata Teleservices has one of the largest enterprise-focused teams in the industry with deep customer engagement and technology orientation offering focused sales and service experience to customers. Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited is listed on BSE and NSE in India. www.tatatelebusiness.com .