Cell numbers may get 11th digit soon

DoT intends to implement the migration of the existing 10-digit numbering plan to an 11-digit plan, effective January 1, 2010. DoT essentially wants service providers to prefix the digit 9 to the existing numbers. When contacted, mobile operators denied having received any such directive. However, it is learnt that the direction is to be sent out to all operators, industry associations COAI and AUSPI and TRAI. The move will substantially enhance the numbering capacity, which is important considering that India is the fastest growing mobile market with close to 500 million subscribers, set to touch the 1 billion mark by 2014.