Some mobile users caught in recycled numbers game

One has just got a new mobile connection and suddenly calls from a bank recovery agent start pouring in. Or, one has been trying to link one’s new mobile number to the bank account or UPI but is not able to as it’s already linked with someone else. This is a sure shot sign that one may have got a recycled mobile number from the telco, which till a few months ago was used by another person.
As per officials, over 10 million recycled mobile numbers are put in the market every month by telcos. These are the numbers which were earlier used by some people who have stopped recharging or using them for a specific period. These numbers are then put up in the market again.

As per rules, telecom firms can withdraw a mobile number from a customer if it is not used or recharged for six months. In case of mobile number portability (MNP), if a customer has put in a request to port but has not shifted to another telco, the number will be withdrawn after two months.

Such cases have been rising as the numbering resources are limited but demand for mobile numbers is rising, triggering the spate of recycled numbers.

“As numbering resources are finite, there can’t be unlimited allocation. Since demand for mobile numbers is rising rapidly, there has to be reuse of existing resources,” an official told ET.

But although issuance of recycled numbers is legal and the need of the hour, in many cases it leads to unnecessary pain for the new customer, who is forced to approach various authorities like banks, etc, to disconnect the details of the old person.

Numbers are issued by the department of telecommunications (DoT) for mobile and landline as part of the numbering series from level 1-9. Earlier, mobile numbers used to start from level ‘9’ but due to rising demand, level 8, 7 and 6 are also being utilised for mobile services.In November 2019, the DoT issued a total of 1,917 million numbering resources for mobile services in levels 6-9.

India had some 1,165 million mobile phone subscribers as of February end, of which some 877 million were wireless broadband users, with overall tele sensity at 83.27%, as per the sector regulator.

Queries sent to Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea regarding recycled mobile numbers remained unanswered.

For M2M services, the DoT had allocated 13-digit numbering series. Officials, however, point out that the problem is not recycled numbers but lack of coordination between different departments. For instance, when a mobile number is withdrawn from some customer, the KYC (know your customer) details are deleted from the user base.

When the same number is issued to some other person, the KYC of the new user will be stored. But since the database is not linked with banks, UPI or ecommerce, etc, the new user has to personally change the details.

“There is no unified platform where the information can be shared with all the stakeholders,” an executive with a telco said.