(4 January 2007 4:34 pm)

MUMBAI: Sector regulator Trai has issued an order instructing all access providers to comply with the DOT’s guidelines issued recently for allocation of short codes by the access providers to the content providers including SMS based services.

It is mentioned that the short codes are being used by service providers/ content providers for variety of applications including downloading ring-tones, contests, quiz, polls, information and enquiry service, entertainments, SMS Games, Astrology, Cricket updates etc.

Access providers particularly mobile operators are allocating short codes to their content providers for various value added services including SMS based services within their network. Trai observed that some of these short codes were not in accordance with the National Numbering Plan-2003 and DOT’s earlier orders on this issue, asserts an official release.

As per the license agreement access providers should adhere to the National Numbering Plan in this context Trai had asked access providers to stop use of these prohibited levels vide its direction dated 31 July 2006. Subsequently this issue was examined by DoT and necessary guidelines in this regard were issued.

As per the guidelines issued by DoT five digit code starting with level five is to be used by access providers for allocation of short codes to their content providers including SMS based services within their network and accordingly all existing four digit short codes are to be prefixed by five to convert the same to five digit codes.

Further the existing five and six digit short codes are to be migrated to five digit codes by replacing the first digit or first two digits respectively by five and so on.

Trai has sought compliance of the DoT guidelines from all the access providers as and when the same is implemented but not later than 31 May 2007, adds the release.