Consequently, a one that has not too long ago acquired a new mobile connection may unexpectedly obtain calls from a bank recovery agent.Alternatively, one may encounter difficulties linking their new mobile number to their bank account or UPI, as it’s already related with another person.
This is a clear indication that the person may have been assigned a recycled mobile number by the telco, which was utilized by one other individual till a few months prior, states an ET report by Kiran Rathee.
According to laws, telecom firms can reclaim a mobile number from a buyer if it stays unused or not recharged for a interval of six months. In the case of mobile number portability (MNP), if a buyer has initiated a request to port however has not transitioned to one other telco, the number will likely be withdrawn after two months.
Recycled mobile telephone numbers
“As numbering assets are finite, there cannot be limitless allocation. Since, demand for mobile numbers is rising quickly, one has to reuse present assets,” an official told the financial daily.
While the issuance of recycled numbers is legal and necessary, it often causes unnecessary inconvenience for the new customer, who is compelled to contact various authorities, such as banks, to disconnect the details of the previous owner.
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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) assigns numbers for mobile and landline services as part of the numbering series from levels 1-9. Previously, mobile numbers began with level ‘9’, but due to increasing demand, levels 8, 7, and 6 are also being utilized for mobile services.
In November 2019, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) allocated a total of 191.7 crore numbering resources for mobile services across levels 6 to 9. According to the sector regulator, India had approximately 116.5 crore mobile phone subscribers as of February end, with 87.7 crore of them being wireless broadband users. The overall tele-density in the country stood at 83.27%.
Queries sent to major telecom operators like Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea regarding recycled mobile numbers remained unanswered. For machine-to-machine (M2M) services, the DoT had allocated a separate 13-digit numbering series.
Officials, however, emphasize that the issue lies not with recycled numbers but rather with the lack of coordination among various departments. For example, when a mobile number is withdrawn from a customer, the associated KYC (know your customer) details are removed from the user base. When the same number is assigned to a new person, their KYC information is stored. However, since the database is not connected with banks, UPI, or e-commerce platforms, the new user must manually update their details.
“There is not any unified platform the place the data might be shared with all of the stakeholders,” an government with a telco mentioned.
The authorities acknowledges this drawback and has established a digital intelligence platform (DIP) to facilitate coordination among the many varied stakeholders. The DIP will likely be helpful not just for managing recycled numbers but additionally for curbing the misuse of telecom assets in cybercrime and monetary frauds.
