New data from the TNS Half-Year 2025 Robocall Report shows that, despite years of effort (the original deadline for implementation was four years ago), robocalls remain a major challenge for the telecom industry. Really, there’s no surprise here. We all deal with a constant barrage of robocalls every day.
That’s a big reason why many consumers simply ignore the phone these days. On average, Americans received 148.8 million robocalls per day last month (June 2025). That’s a preposterous 1,722 calls every second. In just the first four months of the year, robocall volume hit 18.9 billion calls, nearly a 12% increase over 2024.
Here’s why the problem persists.
Tier-1 carriers, such as Verizon (News - Alert), AT&T, T-Mobile, Comcast/Lumen, and UScellular have successfully implemented STIR/SHAKEN protocols. That’s helped them achieve a reported 84% call signing and verification between them in early 2025. But, calls originating from smaller providers carry valid signatures only 21% of the time.
This disparity makes legacy networks fertile ground for scams, and bad actors are increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities in non-IP networks used by smaller carriers, creating a backdoor into the broader telecom ecosystem. Robocallers exploit these weaker links using tactics like SIM-boxing and call spoofing, taking advantage of outdated SS7 and TDM circuits where STIR/SHAKEN metadata is stripped away.
The relentless onslaught or robocalls continues to erode trust in voice communications, leaving many customers hesitant to answer unknown numbers – even legitimate ones. To make matters worse, scammers are increasingly issuing fraudulent A-level attestations that make calls appear more credible, tricking recipients into answering and, in some cases, divulging sensitive information (but that’s a story for another day). The emotional and financial toll is significant, and businesses also feel the impact when spoofed calls damage their reputations and disrupt customer engagement.
The telecom industry has made progress, particularly through the deployment of STIR/SHAKEN, which authenticates caller IDs for IP-based networks. Tier-1 carriers now provide 94% A-level attestation for traffic within their networks, making it harder for spoofed calls to slip through. In addition, companies are leveraging real-time analytics, call-reputation databases, and AI-driven mitigation tools to detect and block suspicious activity.
The robocall mitigation market, valued at $5.6?billion in 2024, is projected to grow to $22?billion by 2035, underscoring the rising demand for these solutions – and the severity of the problem. On the regulatory front, the TRACED Act mandates STIR/SHAKEN adoption, and the FCC (News - Alert), along with state attorneys general, has intensified enforcement. Yet, these measures often fall short in curbing activity on smaller networks, where the costs and technical challenges of upgrading remain significant hurdles.
To make a meaningful dent in robocall volume, the industry must take several steps. Accelerating the migration of smaller carriers from SS7 and TDM to SIP/IP networks would be a significant step towards closing security gaps. Offering incentives or technical support could speed that process for resource-constrained carriers. Expanding authentication beyond PKI-based methods to include challenge-response protocols may also help secure legacy systems. Meanwhile, AI-powered detection tools capable of identifying scammers in real time represent a promising next frontier.
While this may be difficult to push through in today’s landscape, regulators should strengthen oversight of the Robocall Mitigation Database and enforce stricter penalties for non-compliance.
Finally, empowering consumers with greater transparency, such as clearer indicators of call verification status and expanded default blocking options, can enhance protection and rebuild trust in phone communications.
Robocalls persist not because solutions are unavailable, but because deployment remains uneven, legacy systems leave gaps, and fraud tactics continue to evolve. While Tier-1 carriers have shown measurable progress, bad actors are exploiting weaknesses in smaller networks to maintain their foothold. Addressing this problem requires coordinated action among carriers, regulators, technology providers, and consumers. By embracing network modernization, broadening authentication strategies, advancing AI-driven detection, and reinforcing enforcement, the telecom industry can significantly curb the robocall epidemic and restore confidence in voice communications.
