The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on February 06, 2025, released recommendations on the Revision of the National Numbering Plan.
The salient features of the recommendations are as follows: -
• Charges on numbering resources –
o No additional charge or financial disincentive on numbering resources has been recommended at this stage.
o DoT to monitor the annual usage of numbering resources allocated to TSPs and if required, may withdraw unutilised numbering resources.
• To address numbering resource constraints in Fixed-line Services –
o 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.
o Dial all fixed-line to fixed-line calls using a prefix of '0', followed by the STD code and the subscriber number.
o The dialling pattern for fixed-to-mobile, mobile-to-fixed, and mobile-to-mobile calls will remain unchanged.
• Inhibit UCC (Unsolicited Commercial Communication), Spam caUs and CLI spoofing –
o 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.
o 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.
• Timeline for deactivation of numbering resources for mobile and Fixedline connections –
o No mobile or fixed-line connections shall be deactivated by the TSPs until 90 days of the non-usage period expires.
o 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.
• Numbering resources for Mobile and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) –
o 13-digit M2M numbering resources sufficient enough to meet both current and future demands.
o DoT to expeditiously implement the accepted THAI recommendation stating that all the SIM-based M2M connections using 10-digit mobile numbering series should be shifted to the 13-digit M2M communication.
• Other numbering resources -Level-i shortcodes –
o To be allocated free of charge and to Government entities only.
o Conduct annual utilisation audit of shortcodes. Inactive shortcodes be withdrawn on merit, in consultation with the user entities.
The Link for the recommendation - https://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/202502/Recommendation_06022025_0.pdf
[Press Release No. 09/2025]
