Bharti Airtel asks DoT to liberalise allocation of numbers:

Taking a stand in contrast to GSM industry body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), Bharti Airtel on Friday asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to liberalise the allocation of numbers to operators. 

As per existing guidelines, a new operator is allocated 10 lakh numbers per circle and thereafter, more are allotted based on subscriber additions. 

There is a critical need to reconsider the criteria for allocation of new number series, the country's biggest mobile operator by subscribers said. 

In a letter to DoT Secretary MF Farooqui, Airtel said, "The present policy is extremely stringent, resulting in inordinate delays, seriously limiting the customers and operators ability to seek or add new customers." 

The Cellular Operators Association of India, which represents GSM players, including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular , had recently written to DoT to allocate only 10 lakh numbers per circle to Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJIL), in accordance with current guidelines. 

As per media reports, Reliance Jio Infocomm had asked for 4 crore numbers to launch 4G operations in the country. 

RJIL holds pan-India spectrum for this service in 22 circles. 

COAI had said the existing guidelines should apply to all service providers and should be applicable to new operators. 

Reliance Jio should be given only 10 lakh numbers per circle: COAI

GSM industry body COAI has asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) not to give "exclusive" number series to Reliance Jio Infocomm and allocate only 10 lakh numbers in each circle as per the guidelines.

According to media reports, Reliance Jio Infocomm has demanded 4 crore numbers to launch 4G operations in the country.

"We submit that there is an existing guideline set by DoT for allocation of numbers. When a service provider starts the services, they are allocated 1 million numbers in each circle of operation," COAI has said in a letter to DoT Secretary M F Farooqui.

When contacted, Reliance Jio did not offer any immediate comments on the issue.

COAI said the existing guideline should be applicable for all the service providers and this should continue to be applicable to any new licensees.

Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL), the telecom arm of Reliance Industries, has got a unified telecom licence that will enable it to offer voice telephony and high speed data services across the country.

RJIL is the only company that holds pan-India spectrum for 4G services. The company earlier held Internet Service Provider Licence which will be annulled once it is issued UL.

The company has shown intention to provide phone call service using radiowaves it has and is testing the technology for the same.

"No additional benefit should be conferred on any particular service provider by giving them additional numbers beyond their scope," Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has said.

The industry body said any changes will be against the level playing field as all the other service providers are following the existing rules set by DoT.

"Hence, Reliance Jio Infocomm should be allocated only one million numbers per circle of their operations," COAI said.

The GSM body also said RJIL should not be allocated exclusive numbering series in order to maintain a level playing field.