TRAI initiates process for mobile telephone directory

Tracing mobile number of any subscriber may now become easier with TRAI making efforts to publish numbers of all users.

Tracing mobile number of any subscriber may now become easier with telecom regulator TRAI starting the process of publishing telephone directory of the users of all private as well as the state-owned service providers.

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"In a multi-operator, multi-service scenario, there is a need for directory enquiry services across different network and service areas," TRAI said in a release.

Mobile users represent about half of the telephone subscribers in the country and due to non-availability of a directory, they are largely unreachable today unless the caller has the number, it said.

At present, printed telephone directory is available only for fixed line subscribers of BSNL and MTNL and even though the mobile and basic services licences mandated directory enquiry services, none of the private operators have so far brought out printed telephone directories of their subscribers, TRAI said.

With intense competition in the sector coupled with high growth rate and increasing rate of tele-marketing by the companies to sell their products, the issues involving publication of telephone directory have increased manifold, it stated.