State of Telecom Industry in Pakistan

A good write-up from PTA on mobile number migration work, currently in progress. See my previous posts here and here.

Pakistan follows International Telecommunication Union (ITU) -T standards E.164 for geographical national numbering plan that includes local loop & cellular mobile operators. The cellular mobile numbers are identified by means of 4-digit separate access code which is known as NDC (National Destination code) i.e. 03xx (x=0-9). The first 50 codes are reserved for Cellular mobile operators. Each access code has the capacity to accommodate 8-million subscribers excluding level “0” & “1”. This means that subscriber number consist of 11-digits i.e. NDC & 7-digit number starting from 2 to 9. In Pakistan cellular mobile numbering plan is based on geographical boundaries that limit the utilization to 50-60% of the numbering space available against each NDC. In this scenario, each cellular mobile operator requires multiple NDCs to accommodate their growing subscribers.

To provide more numbering space, a public consultation process for 7 to 8 mobile number migration was started in 2007. The consultation paper was circulated to all stakeholders and it was decided that the current mobile numbering plan i.e. 0300-xxxxxxx will be changed into new mobile numbering plan i.e. 030-0xxxxxxx. The mobile number migration is planned to alter minimum changes in the existing mobile subscriber numbers, as there is shift of 1-digit from mobile NDC code to the subscriber number. Except CMPAK [031], Instaphone [036], & SCOM [035] the numbering plan of remaining cellular mobile operators will remain the same from subscriber point of view. The dialing format of Mobilink, Ufone, Telenor, & Warid will remain the same but the changes are implemented in core network. This will increase the current numbering capacity by 10 times which is enough for next two decades in Pakistan.

The implementation of 7-8 digit mobile number migration will be carried out in four stages as per the international practices which include Public awareness campaign [Jan-March 2008], parallel operation [April-June 2008], announcement phase [July-Sep 2008], & sterilization process.

During parallel operation the subscriber shall be able to dial both old & new codes and the facility of dialing of both codes (parallel operation) would be available from all telecom service providers. During parallel operation new numbers of CMPAK, Instaphone, & SCOM shall appear on called party’s CLI and this will enable the subscriber to memorize & store the new numbers. The old numbers of CMPAK [0304], Instaphone [0320], & SCOM [0335] will be inaccessible from 1st July 2008 and the standard announcement shall be run by all operators when the old code is dialed.

The ported out numbers of CMPAK & Instaphone under Mobile Number Portability (MNP) system, will also change from 0304 to 031-4 & 0320 to 036-4 respectively. The necessary changes are made in the centralized database that is maintained by Pakistan Mobile Database Guarantees Ltd. Furthermore, only new numbers of CMPAK & Instaphone will be ported out from 1st April 2008. The modification of existing databases inline with new mobile numbering plan was carried out in all Fixed line, Wireless local loop, Long distance International, & Mobile networks for the successful implementation of 7-8 digit mobile number migration plan.

The 7 to 8 Mobile Number Migration Plan has number of advantages. Each single NDC (one per operator) has a capacity of 100 million numbers. The NDCs of only three mobile operators i.e. CMPAK, Instaphone, & SCOM (AJK & NAs) have changed effecting only 2 million subscribers out of an existing more than 80 million. The four digit codes of all mobile operators have been reduced to three digits. Dialing format remains the same 11 digit dialing as before. The capacity expansion in mobile numbering plan is sufficient for next two decades.