
TRAI also known as The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has proposed the idea of charging for phone and landline numbers as they are considered to be finite and valuable resources. As more people in India adapt to smartphones, and 5G internet, the finite yet valuable public resource needs appropriate and efficient allocation and charging a sum of money will help in ensuring that.
85.69 per cent of India had already adapted to Telecome services by March of 2024, and in a country of billions, it is no small number. Hence, the demand for numbering resources has come up.
With the implementation of a fee structure, TRAI will be able to regulate the allocation of these mobile numbers.
Also Read – Is Twitter Too Boring for Indians?
This new law which was passed in last year December enables operators to charge money for not only the services but also the license of phone number that the user has been getting for free till now. This new telecom law is called, “telecom identifiers”.
TRAI has suggested multiple methods of charging which include a one-time payment for the number, or an annual subscription for the number or a centralised auction for VIP numbers.