Forget 10 digits, now you have to remember 13 digits mobile numbers

In a move to improve the security and provide better features to its users, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has issued a directive instructing all telecom operators to start issuing 13-digit mobile numbers to the M2M customers across the country.

From October 1, 2018, the existing users' mobile will be ported to the 13-digit numbers and the deadline for the completion of the same is December 31,18.

“The directive from DoT had come on January 8, 2018, post which we started work on it,” said a senior BSNL official.

The telecom official further added, “It is decided that 13-digit M2M (Machine-to-machine) numbering plan will be implemented from July 1, 2018. From this date onwards, all new M2M mobile connections will be allocated 13-digit numbers only... Migration of existing 10-digit M2M numbers will start latest by 1 October 2018 and shall be completed by 31 December 2018.”

The private telecom service provider Bharti Airtel Ltd responded to the written consultation on paper of Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) on Spectrum, Roaming and QoS related requirements in Machine-to-Machine Communications’, said, “DoT has already approved a 13-digit numbering series for SIM-based M2M devices which will co-exist with the prevalent 10-digit mobile numbering scheme to be allocated for the Unified Licence (Access Service Authorization).”

In a written letter to TRAI, Ministry of Communication informed that 13-digit numbering scheme has been approved for SIM-based M2M devices.”

M2M sim has technologies that enable sensors and devices or things to communicate with one another and with other Internet-denied and systems.

So, from July 1, 2018, we will have to remember 13 digits numbers instead of 10. Let's see how much security telecom industry's this tictac gives us and how successful it comes out.