The Hindu Business Line : 10-digit Tata cell numbers from June

"Our customers will be informed through mailers, text messages and other media in order to ensure that the transition will be smooth," said a company official.

The subscribers using fixed wireless terminals (FWTs) will not have to change their numbers.

The transition is likely to be on a State-by-State basis.

Reliance Infocomm and Tata Teleservices had been asked by the Department of Telecom (DoT) to change the eight-digit numbers of mobile customers to 10-digit numbers by March 31.

However, the operators could not meet the earlier deadline due to "operational issues".

Following this, the TRAI held a series of meetings with Tata TeleServices, Reliance Infocomm and BSNL officials to sort out related issues.

The regulator had formed an internal committee to deal with the issue.

"We had asked the companies to migrate their mobile customers to the 10-digit scheme at the earliest possible time. Tata Tele and BSNL have reached an agreement and will start the procedure June onwards. Reliance is expected to follow soon," said a TRAI official.

However, Reliance Infocomm is yet to reach any final agreement with BSNL.

These operators had been asked to change their subscribers' numbers after they migrated to unified access service licence from basic licence. The unified access licence enables operators to offer fully mobile services, while under basic license they can provide limited mobility services.

In December 2003, the TRAI had recommended that all fully mobile cellular services, irrespective of technology deployed, should be treated at par as far as the numbering scheme is concerned.