TRAI has proposed two options for the government to address the shortage of fixed line phone numbers. Penalizing telecom operators for hoarding unused numbers and implementing a uniform 10-digit numbering system for both fixed lines and mobile phones. The idea of financially penalizing operators for hoarding numbers is being put forward.
India’s telecom regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), is tackling the shortage of fixed-line phone numbers. A consultation paper released on Thursday outlines two options to address the issue.
Firstly to penalise telecom operators for piling up unused numbers and secondly to introduce a uniform 10-digit numbering system for both fixed lines and mobile phones.
What is the problem
The rapid growth in the telecom sector has led to a shortage of fixed line phone numbers. TRAI reports that over 6.28 crore fixed line numbers have been allocated to operators, but only 2.74 crore are currently in use. This leaves a staggering 3.54 crore numbers remaining unused.
What is the solution?
Penalizing operators for hoarding of numbers is TRAI’s first solution option. TRAI is considering imposing financial penalties on telecom service providers (TSPs) who keep a large percentage of their allotted numbers unused for a long time.
- The consultation paper seeks feedback on the specific percentage threshold for imposing penalties, the suggested mechanism, and the time frame for considering a number as unused.
- Talking about the second solution, TRAI is considering a uniform 10-digit numbering system. TRAI is exploring the possibility of adopting a uniform 10-digit numbering plan for both fixed line and mobile services.
- Currently, fixed line numbers consist of a local area code (2-4 digits) and a subscriber number (6-8 digits), while mobile numbers use all 10 digits for identification.
- A uniform system would streamline numbering and could free up resources by eliminating the need for varying code lengths.
Suggestions sought from stockholders
TRAI is inviting comments and suggestions from stakeholders on the proposed solutions. This will help them determine the most effective approach to address the shortage of fixed line numbers and ensure sustained growth in the telecom sector.
