The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today issued recommendations on ‘Revision of National Numbering Plan’.

  Telecommunication Identifiers (TIs)/ Numbering resources are used to uniquely identify a telecom user, service, network elements, equipment, or an authorised entity. In today’s interconnected digital landscape, where billions of devices and users are required to be addressed, sufficient availability and efficient utilisation of numbering resources (TIs) are essential for ensuring universal accessibility and reliable delivery of telecommunication services to consumers, businesses, and industries.

TRAI had received a reference letter No. 16-16/2022-AS-III/123/233 dated 29.9.2022 from DoT seeking recommendations to address constraints related to the availability of adequate fixed line numbering resources arising out of rapid growth and the revised National Numbering Plan. DoT had also requested examination and recommendations on the aspects related to the Fixed-line numbering Scheme, level ‘1’ short-codes numbering resources, Service Control Point (SCP) codes, National Signalling Point (SP) Codes for signalling, Mobile Country Code-Mobile Network Code (MCC-MNC) for Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN), M2M numbering resources, Intelligent Network Services, and Number Portability Codes (Location Routing Number).

 Accordingly, TRAI issued a Consultation Paper on ‘Revision of National Numbering Plan’ on 06thJune 2024.The comments and counter-comments received from various stakeholders are available on the TRAI website. In this regard, an Open House Discussion (OHD) was held on 08th October 2024 through video conference.

 Based on the comments/ inputs received from the stakeholders during the consultation process, discussions held during OHD, and further analysis of the issues, the Authority has finalised Recommendations on ‘Revision of National Numbering Plan’.

  The salient features of the recommendations are as follows: -

1. Charges on numbering resources - 

1. No additional charge or financial disincentive on numbering resources has been recommended at this stage.

 

2. DoT to monitor the annual usage of numbering resources allocated to TSPs and if required, may withdraw unutilized numbering resources.

 

2. To addressnumbering resource constraints in Fixed-line Services –

 

1. Migrate from Short Distance Charging Area (SDCA)(mostly Taluka/Tehsil) to License Service Area (LSA)based 10-digit closed numbering scheme for fixed-line services to unlock numbering resources currently restricted to SDCA level.
2. Dial all fixed-line to fixed-line calls using a prefix of '0', followed by the STD code and the subscriber number.
3. The dialling pattern for fixed-to-mobile, mobile-to-fixed, and mobile-to-mobile calls will remain unchanged.
4. Existing subscriber numbers remain unchanged.
5. Six months to implement the new numbering scheme.
6. Post implementation of the LSA-based 10-digit closed numbering scheme, a 10-digit fixed-line numbering scheme using a Fixed-line Location Routing Number (FLRN) code should be adoptedwithin a maximum period of five years, resulting in nationwide availability of LSA-based numbering resources. This would facilitate implementing fixed-line number portability (as is presently available in the Mobile network) in the near future.

3. Inhibit UCC (Unsolicited Commercial Communication), Spam calls and CLI spoofing

 

1. DoT to implement TRAI recommendations on ‘Introduction of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) Service in Indian Telecommunication Network’ dated 23.02.2024 at the earliest including expeditious implementation of CNAP supplementary services for all SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and PRI (Primary Rate Interface) Calls terminating on mobile networks.
2. To stop CLI (Call Line Identification) spoofing and tampering, the CLI Authentication framework and Distributed Certification Authority framework should be implemented in accordance with ITU recommendations Q.3057 and Q.3062, respectively.

 

4. Timeline for deactivation of numbering resources for mobile and Fixedline connections –

 

1. No mobile or fixed-line connections shall be deactivated by the TSPs until 90 days of the non-usage period expires.

2. All mobile and fixed-line connections that remain inactive due to non-usage shall be mandatorily deactivated by the TSPs after 365 days post-expiration of 90 days of the non-usage period.

5. Numbering resources for Mobile and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) –

 

1. 13-digit M2M numbering resources sufficient enough to meet both current and future demands.

2. DoT to expeditiously implement the accepted TRAI recommendation stating that all the SIM-based M2M connections using 10-digit mobile numbering series should be shifted to the 13-digit M2M communication.

6. Other numbering resources -Level-1 shortcodes–

1. To be allocated free of charge and to Government entities only.

2. Conduct annual utilisation audit of shortcodes. Inactive shortcodes be withdrawn on merit, in consultation with the user entities.

            The recommendations have been placed on TRAI's website www.trai.gov.in.

            For any clarification/information Shri Abdul Kayum, Advisor (Broadband and Policy Analysis), TRAI may be contacted at Tel. No. +91-11-20907757.

 

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