Bharti Airtel has written to the Department of Telecom seeking a more relaxed policy for allocation of numbering resources. The operator has said that current mechanism is coming in the way of growth as it is becoming tedious to get new number series.

Airtel has also urged the DoT to convert unused fixed line telephone number series to mobile series.

The letter comes a day after the Cellular Operators Association of India asked the DoT to take a stringent policy against allocating numbers to Reliance Jio.

COAI, of which Airtel is a key member, had asked the DoT not to give “exclusive” number series to Reliance Jio Infocomm and allocate only 10 lakh numbers in each circle as per the guidelines.

Airtel’s letter, therefore, is being seen by industry watchers as an indication of a possible difference of opinion between the company and other large players that are part of the COAI.

This is the second instance when Airtel has differed with the industry association in the past couple of months. Airtel had earlier sought to distance itself from COAI after the industry body said that internet telephony should not be allowed to companies with broadband spectrum, including Reliance Jio.

thomas.thomas@thehindu.co.in

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