The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently made recommendations for the improvement of the new National Numbering Plan (NNP). This plan is vital to both fixed and mobile telecommunication services across the nation, as it ensures every subscriber in India possesses a unique, identifiable number.
Current State of Telecommunications
At this time, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) manages numbers for fixed and mobile networks based on the National Numbering Plan (NNP), established in 2003. The NNP gives a framework of rules and guidelines for the assignment and utilization of numbers for telephone services that are delivered over public networks. The NNP also outlines how to assign numbers to various services such as international, trunk, emergency, and special services, like voicemail and Intelligent Network (IN) services.
The current system is guided by the International Telecommunication Union’s standards. However, there are significant challenges looming on the horizon that threaten the availability of numbering resources. Rapidly increasing services and an explosion in connection numbers, particularly in the mobile sector, are putting a strain on the system. As of January 2020, the total number of phone subscribers in India was 1,177.02 million, with a tele-density of 87.45%.
Key Recommendations
One of the key recommendations offered by TRAI is to change to an 11-digit mobile number from the current 10-digit number to cope with the rising demand. Another proposal involves reallocating mobile numbering resources abandoned by operators who have shut down their telecommunication businesses.
More propositions include prefixing zero for all mobile calls made from a landline to supplement the numbering space. All SIM-based M2M connections using the 10-digit mobile numbering series need to be shifted to the 13-digit numbering series assigned by DoT. Moreover, TRAI suggests listing all newly allocated numbering resources for both mobile and fixed-line services annually. The authority also recommends utilizing number management system software to automate the allocation of numbers, enhancing efficiency and transparency.
Potential Challenges and the Way Forward
Though these recommendations are forward-looking, implementing them might bring about some challenges. Shifting to 11-digit mobile numbers will entail modifications in the configuration of switches, leading to additional costs. Other possible consequences include inconvenience to customers due to the need to dial extra digits and updating their phone memory, increased dialing errors, fruitless traffic and, as a result, loss of revenue for telecom providers.
Further complications arise as telephone numbers are linked to individuals’ digital identities. Changes related to this would necessitate adjustments in the databases of all services necessitating telephone numbers for identification, such as financial banking services, e-commerce platforms, and government welfare schemes.
However, with burgeoning digitisation ushering in a significant increase in mobile users, a review of numbering resource utilization in the country is essential. This necessity is even more pronounced as the nation strides towards becoming a fully digital economy. Implementing TRAI’s recommendations, with comprehensive solutions to potential issues, might pave the way for sustainable growth in the telecommunications sector.