Govt to ring in 13-digit number scheme for M2M communication

The telecom department is understood to have informed operators including state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) that a 13-digit numbering plan will be used for Machine to Machine (M2M) communication.

While the 13-digit numbering plan will be implemented from July 1, 2018 for Machine to Machine communication, the mobile phone numbering plan of 10 digits remains unchanged.

BSNL, in a recent letter to its equipment vendors, said that in a meeting convened by the Department of Telecom (DoT) on January 8, "it was decided that 13-digit M2M numbering plan will be implemented from July 1, 2018" and that all new M2M connections will be allocated the new 13 digit plan from the stipulated date.

Machine to Machine communication, a new-age technology, is at the heart of concepts such as smart homes and smart cars. Machine to machine communication can include a gas, electricity or water meter communicating information it records such as consumption level, or a vending machine alerting distributor when stocks run low, or transmission of data about personal appliances.

"All TSPs (telecom service providers) must ensure that their network elements including IT and other relevant systems are aligned with the 13 digit numbering for Machine to machine SIMs before July 1, 2018," the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd letter said citing the recent Department of Telecom (DoT) meeting in this regard.

The letter further noted that migration of existing 10 digit Machine to machine numbers to 13 digits will take place between October 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018.

"In view of the directions from the DoT, the undersigned (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd) has been directed to request you to ensure the provision for 13-digit numbering scheme for Machine to Machine communication in all the equipment to be supplied/deployed against Phase VIII...project," BSNL's letter said.

In a tweet, the state-owned telecom corporation also cleared the air over the existing numbering scheme being used for mobile communication.

"There is no change in mobile numbering plan which remains 10 digit. #BSNL preparing for Machine to machine (M2M) communications wherein 13 digit numbering scheme shall be used to connect billions of machines," Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd tweeted.