Telecom News --

TRAI releases consultation paper on “Efficient Utilization of Numbering Resources”

New Delhi , 20 January, 2010

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a consultation paper on “Efficient Utilization of Numbering Resources”.

The National Numbering Plan (NNP) is one of the important fundamental plans that govern the functioning of telecommunications networks. Proper design and judicious reviews are necessary to ensure that the plan constantly meets the country’s requirements as the telecommunication network grows and technological developments take place.

National Numbering Plan (NNP) 2003, that gives the current framework for management of numbering resources, was designed to take care of the numbering requirements for about 30 years timeframe and to cater to about 750 million connections including fixed and mobile. Today we have about 550 million connections and it is expected that the 1 billion mark would be crossed before the end of 2014. This puts immense pressure on the numbering resources.

Major modifications in a numbering plan could mean substantial changes in the network and costs for the service providers. From the subscribers viewpoint as well, frequent changes are inconvenient as the subscribers would have to change their dialing habits and also reprogram their mobile phones and phone books. It has therefore become necessary to elicit views of the stakeholders on issues like allocation and efficient utilization of numbering resources.

The consultation paper takes up the following important issues for deliberations:

• Long term suitability of numbering plan
• Effective utilization of numbers
• Allocation and pricing of the numbers

The consultation paper discusses various recourses available for rationalizing the plan to meet numbering requirements for next five years and also for longer term. The stakeholders have been requested to comment on the possibilities of retaining 10 digit numbering scheme or migrating to 11 digit scheme as also on integrated scheme for fixed and mobile telephones. The issue of pricing of the numbers as a tool for encouraging efficient utilization of numbering resources has also been raised.

Full text of the Consultation Paper is available on TRAI’s website (www.trai.gov.in). Written comments on the issues raised may be furnished to Principal Advisor(I&FN), TRAI by 19th February 2010. The comments would be posted on the TRAI website. Counter-comments, if any, to the comments received may be sent by 5th March 2010. The comments and counter-comments may preferably be sent by email at dafn@trai.gov.in or in case of any difficulty these may be sent at trai.gov@gmail.com . The comments can also be mailed to the address given below or faxed to 011-23220209. For any further clarifications please contact Sh Lav Gupta, Pr Advisor(I&FN) on 011-23216930 or Sh Arvind Kumar,Jt Advisor(I&FN) on 011-23220209.

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