Looking for mobile numbers is set to get easy now. The department of telecommunications (DoT) has decided to create an integrated enquiry system for all mobile and fixed line networks. Simply put, a 197 kind of system will help one look for mobile numbers as well as fixed line phone numbers of private service providers.
At present, the 197 directory enquiry service is only for BSNL and MTNL fixed line phone numbers.
Apart from the integrated enquiry system, printed telephone directories would also come out for fixed line phone numbers of private service providers. Currently, printed directories list only MTNL/BSNL fixed line numbers. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has been asked by the DoT to suggest a commercial model for creating the directory and the enquiry system. Trai would shortly come out with a consultation paper on the subject.
Roughly, the model would be such where bids would be invited from both existing operators as well as new players for creating and maintaining the enquiry system. The winner would have to pay a licence fee to the government, to be decided at a later date, and maintain the system. The vendor can earn revenue by advertisements. Once a mobile directory is available, India would join the league of the most developed nations since in the European Union countries it is mandatory for mobile operators to publish one comprehensive directory for end-users.
However, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), GSM operators? body, had opposed and continues to oppose publication of any directory of post-paid subscribers arguing that mobile phone users prefer privacy. Further, many users give mobile phones to their children and would not prefer their numbers to be printed in any form of directory. The issue of roaming charges was also cited as reasons against publishing mobile phone directory. Consumer organisations, on the other hand have all along been insistent about the need to publish such directories saying they help in locating people and their addresses.
Trai in its recommendations to the DoT way back in 2005 had said telephone directory and directory enquiry be made mandatory. As far as the licensing conditions are concerned, there?s no uniformity. For instance, the old cellular licenses and basic service licenses mandated operators to publish directories. However, then incoming calls on mobile phones were also charged, so the operators never came out with the directories.
