India can adopt telephone number mapping to avoid migrating from 10-digit mobile number to an 11-digit number. The ever-increasing number of fresh subscribers every month has exhausted the allotment of new serial mobile numbers available with the department of telecom (DoT), forcing the industry to seek migration to the 11-digit solution.

The national numbering plan 2003 was formulated to meet the growing mobile subscriber base in the country. The 10-digit numbering pattern was projected to meet the industry growth figures for the next 50 years. However, the 10-digit number series has already got exhausted in six years.

The ENUM or electronic numbering is a technology adopted by some of the mobile-rich countries to meet the growing requirement of the mobile industry. The ENUM technology is being adopted by Malaysia and the UK to meet the increasing number of telecom subscribers.

Telephone number mapping is the process through which the telephone network (public-switched telephone network) is unified with the Internet address using the Internet protocol (IP). This technology will be similar to the model available in Internet connectivity whereby each Internet connection has a unique IP address.

According to telecom expert Satyen N Gupta, “The problem of a single universal personal identifier for multiple communication services can be resolved using this technology. Once adopted, the numbering pattern will not require migrating from 10 to 11 digit or more despite surge in the mobile subscriber base.”

A senior DoT official told Financial Chronicle, “So-me countries where there is unprecedented growth in mobile (subscribers) are adopting new technology to meet the number crunch. We are aware of ENUM or telephone number mapping, but have not taken up the project.”At present, technology companies such as Telcordia Technologies and Neustar Inc are offering the number mapping.

When contacted, secretary general of Association of Unified Service Providers of India (Auspi), S C Khanna said, “There are technologies that could be adopted to meet the growing demand but migration to 11 digit is an easier route. With more than 8 to 9 operators in a single circle and a couple of new operators likely to launch services, we need to meet the crunch.”