DoT, Trai lock horns over telemarketing cos' new number

Differences have cropped up between the Telecom Ministry and sectoral regulator Trai over issuance of new number series to telemarketing companies for using landline phones.

Trai had requested the Department of Telecom (DoT) to issue a uniform new number series for all unsolicited calls and SMSes originating from mobile and landline phones, with the latter citing unclear communication from Trai leading to its inability to provide the number in short time.

"We were not told clearly what Trai wants? They overlooked security, technical and billing issue related to issue of new series for basic (landline) service," a senior DoT official told PTI.

Trai was confident of getting this number issued in this week and has kept last date of February 28, 2011, for disconnecting (withdrawing) existing telecom connections of telemarketing companies.

DoT on request from Trai on January 31, 2011, issued '140' series for this purpose and restricted it for use of mobile phone service of telemarketers.

"They (DoT) never informed us before making this change. We had a meeting with them on February 4 and 8, 2011 in which they said their internal committee is looking into it and will issue number this week," said a Trai official.

For changing number series, the DoT official explained there would have been loss of 10 crore mobile number resources.

"They (Trai) never told us the way they wanted to implement regulation. In this February they told us that they want same series of number for both basic and mobile service. We cannot change STD codes of various places in to uniform number series," DoT official said.

DoT official explained that changing STD codes for basic service will have security implications as security agencies will find it difficult to trace number.

"We need to consult with security agencies for it," DoT official said.

DoT official added companies will not be able to bill interconnect usage charge properly as they will be unable to identify telecom network from which calls are coming.

"There are technical issues also. If Trai wants to prefix 140 number series for a connection , with two STD code digits then a telephone number will become of 13 digits. Only few exchanges can be modified to transmit this big number series," the DoT official said.

The DoT official indicated that department will have to undertake mammoth exercises to accept TRAI's request which requires more time and cannot be done within date set by Trai.

However, the TRAI official expressed confidence in meeting timeline set for implementing  regulation to curb pesky calls and SMSes and said the regulation will be implemented without fail from March 1, 2011 onward.

"I don't see any reason for telemarketing companies business getting disrupted. They can use mobile services," TRAI official said.

Trai in its regulation on UCC has mentioned hefty fines on telemarketing companies ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2,50,000 for violation of norms.