Mobile Boom Leads To Numbering Problem (01-Mar-2010)
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India started the process of finding a long-term solution to a complex issue.
This is with the 10-digit mobile numbers on the verge of getting worn out as 1.5-crore-odd mobile subscribers are being added every month.
In addition, it might include 11-digit mobile number to ensure unhindered growth of mobile penetration.
However, the regulator wrote to all operators asking for ideas on how to deal with issues and find out long-term suitability of numbering plan.
Also on effective utilization of numbers and allocation and pricing of the numbers.
TRAI has said it would discuss various recourses available for rationalizing the plan in order to meet numbering requirements of the next 5 years and also for longer term.
Meanwhile, the stakeholders have been requested to comment on the possibilities of retaining 10-digit numbering scheme.
They have also been requested to comment on 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.
On the other hand, the DoT allowed the use of mobile numbers beginning with ''8'' after the entire ''9'' got exhausted besides doing away with ''95'' STD dialing.
This is in order to make more mobile numbers available to operators.
Previously, it was said that the government will set up 10,000 telecom towers across India this fiscal with fiscal support from the Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund.
USO is a corpus for providing affordable telephone services in rural areas and the government will do this with an aim to connect the rural masses.
President Pratibha Patil stated that the government has already commenced action to set up 10,000 towers in 2010-11 for connecting remote areas across India.
Earlier, it was said that the telecom sector hopes for some incentives from Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in his budget proposals for 2010-11.
Telecom players are eyeing some announcements that will push the telecom equipment manufacturing segment and m-commerce, other than part from its long-standing demand of relaxation of the severe tax regime.
The telecom sector has been demanding rationalization of the tax structure while it pays both Central and State-level taxes and has been seeking a unified tax rate.
However, the GSM cellular operators have opposed any incentive to local telecom equipment makers from a dedicated fund meant to subsidize rural telephony.
The GSM operator''s suggestion has been termed as anti-India by the domestic telecom vendors.
GSM operators contribute to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
They are against this resource being used to subsidize or incentivize telecom equipment manufacturers.
Earlier, in the midst of the constant stalemate over telecom towers atop houses in Noida, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) stated it is planning to come up with a consultation paper on among other things identification of locations for setting up towers.
The paper will also seek opinion from the stakeholders on the future projections of telecom tower requirements for better coverage.
It will also emphasize the issues of safe radiation from mobile towers and encourage alternate source of energy for the tower to reduce pollution.
Additionally, in order to top 560 million connections, India''s telecom subscriber base crossed another milestone in December, although there was a net decline in the user base for the traditional fixed line telephones.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) stated that as many as 19.1 million new connections were added during the month.
This was done in order to take the net subscriber base to 562.21 million and the tele-density to an impressive 47.89%.
Per second billing, introduced by telecom companies is proving to be a nuisance for cellular service providers as it is affecting their revenues.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or TRAI (established 1997) is the independent regulator established by the Government of India to regulate the telecommunications business in India.
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