Indian Telcos Oppose Moves Towards 11-Digit Phone Numbers

Published on: 1st Jan 1970: 1:33am

The majority of India's mobile network operators have rejected plans to move the country to an eleven digit phone number system. Changes to the numbering system are required due to a pending shortage of available numbers within the current mobile prefix, leading the TRAI to hold a consultation.

The mobile operators have countered the suggestion for longer phone numbers by suggesting numbering blocks currently reserved for landline are made available to mobile subscribers.

"It is unfair to keep six billion numbers reserved for fixed line subscribers, whereas the actual number is even below 40 million. This is a clear wastage of the precious numbering resource," the Cellular Operators Association of India, the body representing all GSM operators said in its response.

"Considering the relative size of the subscriber bases in the mobile and fixed sectors and the exponential growth of mobile subscriptions, it is worthwhile to free up the fixed line numbering resources and re-allocate some levels to mobile services.

Reliance Communications and the Tata Teleservices were the only operators not to object to the proposals, arguing that a long term trend towards 11-digit phone numbers in inevitable regardless of how many dialing prefixes are made available.

On the web: The Economic Times

 

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