Should we have 11 digit mobile number?
Differences are growing among mobile operator
lobbies over a government proposal to introduce an 11-digit access code in
place of the existing 10-digit code from January 2010 for mobile services to accommodate
a rapidly growing subscriber base.
The need for a new numbering plan has arisen because India’s mobile subscriber base has grown at a faster pace than expected. The numbering plan that is applicable now was formulated in 2003 on a forecast of 50 per cent tele-density by 2030. This made numbering space available for 750 million telephone connections, comprising an anticipated 300 million basic and 450 million cellular mobile connections.
With India adding over 10 million mobile subscribers every month, the country is already just short of 400 million mobile subscribers and the telecom penetration level stands at over 37 per cent. Therefore, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has had to re-examine plans to accommodate more subscribers.
GSM-technology service providers, which account for the bulk of mobile services in the country, welcomed the addition of the 8 level but objected to the 11-digit numbering plan, saying it would inconvenience incumbent subscribers.
Also, DoT has allocated exclusive two-digit codes to three operators — 92 for Tata Tele, 93 for Reliance Communications and 94 for BSNL (all three provide CDMA and GSM services), a move that has also been opposed by COAI since other operators have do not have exclusive codes. “DoT should also open up these numbers,” said Ramachandran.
Agreeing with COAI, telecom analyst Mahesh Uppal said, “Although 11 digits mean that you have nine billion more numbers to allot, it also means that it is more inconvenient for the consumer at the end of the day”, especially since the existing 400 million-odd subscribers will also have to change their numbers.
CDMA operators, however, say opening up sub-levels of 8 is not enough for the industry that adds over 10 million subscribers to its base every month and an 11-digit numbering is necessary.
The need for a new numbering plan has arisen because India’s mobile subscriber base has grown at a faster pace than expected. The numbering plan that is applicable now was formulated in 2003 on a forecast of 50 per cent tele-density by 2030. This made numbering space available for 750 million telephone connections, comprising an anticipated 300 million basic and 450 million cellular mobile connections.
With India adding over 10 million mobile subscribers every month, the country is already just short of 400 million mobile subscribers and the telecom penetration level stands at over 37 per cent. Therefore, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has had to re-examine plans to accommodate more subscribers.
GSM-technology service providers, which account for the bulk of mobile services in the country, welcomed the addition of the 8 level but objected to the 11-digit numbering plan, saying it would inconvenience incumbent subscribers.
Also, DoT has allocated exclusive two-digit codes to three operators — 92 for Tata Tele, 93 for Reliance Communications and 94 for BSNL (all three provide CDMA and GSM services), a move that has also been opposed by COAI since other operators have do not have exclusive codes. “DoT should also open up these numbers,” said Ramachandran.
Agreeing with COAI, telecom analyst Mahesh Uppal said, “Although 11 digits mean that you have nine billion more numbers to allot, it also means that it is more inconvenient for the consumer at the end of the day”, especially since the existing 400 million-odd subscribers will also have to change their numbers.
CDMA operators, however, say opening up sub-levels of 8 is not enough for the industry that adds over 10 million subscribers to its base every month and an 11-digit numbering is necessary.
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