Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – Statutory Bodies & GS-III – Telecommunications
In News:
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended a new National Numbering Plan to be issued so that a uniquely identifiable number can be provided to every subscriber in India.
Key takeaways
TRAI has recommended:
Switching to a 11-digit mobile number.
Reallocation of mobile numbering resources surrendered by operators who have shut shops.
Prefixing zero for all mobile calls made from fixed lines.
Shifting of SIM-based M2M (machine to machine) connections to the 13-digit numbering series allocated by DoT at the earliest.
The government should enlist all newly allocated numbering resources for fixed line as well as mobile services every year.
Automated allocation of numbering resources using number management system software to speed up the process of allocation in an efficient and transparent manner.
The mobile number should be changed from 10 to 11 digits only if all the efforts to continue with the 10-digit numbering are exhausted.
Presently, adequate availability of numbering resources is threatened because of an increase in the range of services and number of connections, especially in the mobile segment.
Adequate availability of resources is necessary for sustainable growth of the telecommunication services.
Challenges involved in migrating to 11 digits:
Widespread modifications in the configuration of switches involving cost.
Inconvenience to the customers in the form of dialing extra digits and updating phone memory.
More dialing errors
Unnecessary traffic
Loss of revenue to service providers.
Changes will be required in the databases of all services which require telephone numbers for identity like financial banking services, e-commerce, government welfare schemes, etc.
The Department of Telecommunications administers the numbers for fixed and the mobile networks based on the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Recommendations.
The management of numbering resources is governed by the National Numbering Plan.
Important value additions
National Numbering Plan (NNP), 2003
NNP (2003) provides a set of rules and guidelines for the use and assignment of numbers to telephone services delivered over the public networks.
It also describes the assignment of numbers to international services, trunk service, emergency service, etc.
The management of numbering resources is governed by the NNP.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
It was established by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 to regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services.
It provides a fair and transparent policy environment which promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair competition.
