DoT approves for the 13-digit mobile numbering scheme

A directive reportedly issued by the Department of Telecom (DoT) to all the telecom operators in the country has asked them to start issuing 13-digit mobile numbers to customers. A senior BSNL official has confirmed that the directive from DoT had come on January 8, 2018, post which the company has started working on it.

Under this latest development, starting from October 1, 2018 the existing mobile users’ numbers will be ported to 13-digits. The last date to complete the process would be December 31, 2018.

“It is decided that 13-digit M2M (Machine-to-machine) numbering plan will be implemented from July 1, 2018. From this date onwards, all new M2M mobile connections will be allocated 13-digit numbers only. Migration of existing 10-digit M2M numbers will start latest by 1 October 2018 and shall be completed by 31 December 2018,” the official was quoted saying in the report.

If the decision is implemented, India will become the country with the longest mobile numbers, with China the only country at scale with 11 digit mobile numbers, not counting the area code.

Meanwhile, in a letter written by the Ministry of Communication to TRAI has reportedly said that ’13-digit numbering scheme has been approved for SIM-based M2M devices’. A M2M sim is actually the technology which enables devices and sensors or things to communicate with each other and with other Internet-enabled devices and systems. These sims can be used in any mobile phone.