DoT allots 8 series to Reliance

On account of exhausting mobile phone numbers starting with the digit 9, the Department of Telecommunications has allotted Reliance Communications a new series beginning with the digit 8(055) for its Maharashtra and Goa circle (M&G).

Named as the ‘Boss’ series, Reliance will launch it on the GSM network for both of its pre-paid as well as post paid customers. This is the company’s first mobile series beginning with 8 and subsequently the company will launch other new series for other circles as well. The company’s existing customers too can avail of the new series number without requiring to buy a new connection.

“For the first time in the telecommunication history of our country, our customers will have an option of choosing the last 6 digits of their mobile numbers. A customer has to simply send an SMS indicating their choice of numbers and depending on the availability the number will be given to the customer,” Ravi Santhanam, M&G circle CEO, wireless business, Reliance Communications said.

Over one million combination of numbers would be available in the 8055 series for the M&G circle out of which, close to 3,000 numbers will be up for auction.