STIR/SHAKEN statistics from March 2022

The March STIR/SHAKEN statistics are a mixed bag—some numbers got worse, while others improved. Let’s have a look.

SHAKEN-signed robocalls still a problem

Many Robocalls Signed B or C

Figure 1. Calls Signed with B or C Attestation 3x More Likely to be Robocalls

If you’ve been following our monthly SHAKEN statistics articles, you know that some robocallers are getting their robocalls signed. In March 2022, this trend continued. Calls signed with B or C attestation were three times more likely to be robocalls than unsigned calls.

Figure 1 shows that 10.84% of calls signed with B attestation were robocalls. Calls signed with C attestation were just half a percentage point behind.

SHAKEN-signed Robocalls Increasing

Figure 2. Robocalls Increasing Among Calls Signed B or C

Figure 2 shows this trend over the past six months. December 2021 was a big month for signed robocalls as seen with the red (B - Partial) and blue (C - Gateway) lines. The numbers dropped in January but have been climbing since.

The grey line shows the overall robocall percentage jumped from November to December and has been hovering around 3.5%, climbing slightly to 3.77% in March.

SHAKEN participation improved

Most Calls Unsigned

Figure 3. Most Calls Received Were Unsigned

Figure 3 shows that most calls received, 77.28%, were unsigned. This doesn’t bode well for robocall prevention, which works better when you know whether the calling number was spoofed.

Signed Calls Up

Figure 4. The Percentage of Signed Calls Increased

Figure 4 shows a bit of good news: the percentage of signed calls increased slightly, after a gradual four-month decline.

More SHAKEN Signers

Figure 5. The Number of SHAKEN OSPs Increased

More good news: Figure 5 shows that the number of Originating Service Providers (OSPs) signing calls increased from 255 in February to 265 in March.

Robocall Mitigation Database filings in flux

Surge in No SHAKEN Claims

Figure 6. Robocall Mitigation Database Filings Increased

Figure 6 shows that Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD) filings were slow in December and January, with 61 filings each month. Filings increased to 100 in February and 105 in March. More providers doing SHAKEN? Not exactly.

In March 2022, 71% of the new RMD filings were for No SHAKEN. Many of these were in response to emails from the FCC questioning the complete SHAKEN claims of providers who aren’t STI Policy Administrator’s authorized SHAKEN provider list. How could they be doing SHAKEN if they aren’t SHAKEN-authorized?

The big picture

Let’s take a step back and look at the big picture:

1. Robocall numbers are not good. Many robocalls are signed B and C, the trend is increasing, and the overall percentage of robocalls is hovering around 3.5% with a slight upward trend.
2. After a four-month decline, SHAKEN participation is improving. More providers are signing calls, and a higher percentage of calls are signed.
3. Despite slightly better participation, there was a surge in No SHAKEN RMD filings in March. Many of these had claimed complete SHAKEN in previous filings and changed their filing to no SHAKEN in response to emails from the FCC.

There’s more to come. Non-facilities-based providers face an accelerated deadline to implement SHAKEN by June 30, 2022. This will include many of the providers who just changed their RMD filing from complete SHAKEN to no SHAKEN.

The FCC has been sending cease and desist letters to providers with lots of robocalls in their network. The letters require these providers to mitigate the identified traffic within 48 hours and deploy robocall mitigation within 14 days to prevent future robocalls. In addition, state attorneys general are taking voice service providers to court for facilitating illegal robocalls. The walls are closing in on service providers for robocalls.

Collectively, these events will lead to more STIR/SHAKEN and robocall mitigation. Used together. Not one or the other.

It will be interesting to watch the SHAKEN and robocall statistics as these events unfold.

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TransNexus is a leader in developing innovative software to manage and protect telecommunications networks. The company has over 20 years’ experience in providing telecom software solutions including toll fraud prevention, robocall mitigation and prevention, TDoS prevention, analytics, routing, billing support, STIR/SHAKEN and SHAKEN certificate services.

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