Technofriends

It was earlier reported that TRAI is preparing for a 11 Digit Mobile Number migration plan, which was expected to get implemented in January 10 and would have resulted in mobile numbers getting migrated to 11 digits from existing 10 digits.

Now, TRAI is now considering dropping off the 11 digit plan and instead unlock the numbers 2-7 for mobile phones. As of now, mobile phone numbers in India begin from either “8″ or “9″.

This is defintely an important issue given the fact that India has more than 540 million telecom subscribers and under the current scheme, mobile phone numbers are expected to get exhausted within next 2 years.

Trai proposal will open up all levels except numbers beginning with the digit ‘1’, which the regulator wants to reserve for emergency services, toll free numbers and for government-related issues. If the levels, say ‘7’ and ‘8’ are opened up and allotted to mobile operators, this will increase the mobile numbering resources by an additional 2 billion. The Cellular Operators Association of India, the body representing GSM telcos, has pointed out the opening of just two additional levels, even with 60% efficiency would cater to 1,200 million more subscribers, which is sufficient to meet the requirements of all operators for the next seven to 10 years.

As per the new planning being done, TRAI is expected to move the 40 million landline phones in India to a 10 digit format and unlock the 2-7 number series for mobiles.

Am feeling a little relieved as the migration to a 11 digit number would have certainly caused a lot of issues with my address book ( if not anything else).

Via ET

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