11 digit mobile phone numbers from January

More than 480 million subscribers of mobile telephony services will have 11-digit number from January 1.

More than 480 million subscribers of mobile telephony services will have 11-digit number from January 1.

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The subscribers will have to prefix 9 to the existing 10-digit number. For example, a number 9xxxxxxxxx will become 99xxxxxxxxx.

The Department of telecommunications (DoT) issued a notice to all telecom service providers on Tuesday, informing the change in the plan.

“The change in numbering system is due to increase in the number of subscribers,” said a DoT official. “This is also due to increase in the number of service providers.”