The 'Telecom Regulatory Authority of India' (TRAI) has recently submitted a report. Which indicates that there may be a major change in the 'National Numbering Plan'. In fact, the number of mobile subscribers is also increasing with India's growing population. Especially after the launch of 5G network, the number of subscribers has increased at a rapid rate. As a result, it has become necessary for TRAI to bring changes in mobile number. Because the National Numbering Plan was last updated in 2003. But the number of mobile users has increased in 21 years without bringing new series of numbers!
In 2003, a total of 750 million (about 75 crore) telephone connections were allocated in India under the 'National Numbering Plan'. But in a span of 21 years i.e. in 2024, the number of telephone subscribers in India has reached 1,199.28 million (about 119.928 crores). Statistics show that India's teledensity has reached 85.69% by March 31 this year. Because of this, if the 'National Numbering Plan' is not updated, it is not possible to manage the number distribution of new customers properly.
Currently telecom companies allow new applicants to reuse old numbers that have been inactive for more than 90 days. In this case, DoT will get a new series of numbers under the new numbering plan. As a result, telecom companies will be able to allocate their completely unused mobile numbers if customers issue new numbers.
The Department of Telecommunication aka DoT has introduced several rules for mobile number recycling. For example –
1. Telecom companies can only re-use those mobile numbers to new customers, which have not been used or recharged for 6 months or more.
2. If a subscriber applies for 'Mobile Number Portability' (MNP) but the number is not ported to another telecom operator, the number can be allotted to another subscriber for recycling after two months.
A mobile number can be recycled multiple times. As a result, telecom companies are now recycling available mobile numbers to meet the increasing demand for mobile connections and shortage of new series of numbers. However, the previous owner of the number faces various problems for this. But with the change in the 'National Numbering Plan', both the customers and the telecom companies will not have to face any unnecessary problems.
