Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, a statuary body set up to regulate telecommunications in India has denied the media reports suggesting that it has recommended a shift from 10 to 11-digits mobile numbers.
The regulator has released a statement clarifying the rumours regarding its recommendations on ‘Ensuring Adequate Numbering Resources for Fixed Line and Mobile Services’. It said, “It is a complete misinterpretation of the aforesaid recommendations. TRAI has not recommended the 11 digit numbering scheme for mobile services.”
“In fact, as per the TRAI commendation, the country will continue to follow a 10-digit numbering for mobile services. We have categorically rejected shifting to an 11-digit mobile numbering plan,” it added.
Although, TRAI did recommend adding 0 to mobile numbers while calling from fixed lines. It said, “The introduction of a dialling preface for a particular type of call is not akin to increasing the number of digits in the telephone number. This change in the dialling pattern will generate 2544 million additional numbering resources for mobile services to cater to future requirements.”
“This dialling prefix is also mandatory when calls are made from a mobile number to any fixed line number. Therefore, the current recommendation suggests a minor addition in the dialling pattern,” it added.
