The Hindu Business Line : TRAI moots directory service for mobile users

THE Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Friday initiated a process to set up a directory enquiry service for tracing phone numbers of mobile subscribers.

In a consultation paper brought out on Friday to discuss the need for publishing telephone directories, the TRAI has said that in a multi-operator, multi-service scenario, there was a need for directory enquiry services across different network and service areas.

The TRAI has, however, said that in case of published telephone directories there was a possibility of misuse of the directory by telemarketing companies. Therefore, it requires a comprehensive discussion on the issue before making it mandatory for all mobile operators to publish the list of their subscribers.

The TRAI has pointed out that mobile users represent about half of the telephone subscribers in the country and due to non-availability of a directory, they are largely unreachable today unless the caller has the number.

"The private operators have so far not brought out printed telephone directories even though the licence provides for publication of directory of their subscribers," the TRAI said in a press statement.

Currently, printed telephone directory is available only for fixed line subscribers of BSNL and MTNL. The regulator has asked the stakeholders to reply by September 10.

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