Telcos Say No To Integrated Directory

[@ksh@T 20]

NEW DELHI: Are telcos getting environmentally conscious? They all seem to be on a mission to be save trees. The cutting down of trees is the reason they are all citing to oppose Trai’s proposal for an integrated telephone directory:

“Printing a telephone directory consumes enormous resources especially paper, which is extremely critical from environment’s perspective and thus, it would be imperative that for taking any decision to this effect,” Bharti Airtel has told Trai. The Association of Unified Service Providers of India (AUSPI), the body representing CDMA operators, has pointed out that there would be “disastrous environmental effects” if telephone directories were to be printed and updated routinely.

Instead telcos want alternate means such as calling a centralised phone number for all directory services or an online system to avoid the need for publishing of printed directories. “The information can be made available in electronic form on CD by the telecom service operator on a nominal charge,” state-owned MTNL said in its response to the Trai proposal.

Telcos have also pointed out that due to increased subscriber churn – as compared to the days of DoT monopoly, when subscriber churn was unheard of - the frequency of publishing directories will have to be faster to remain relevant.

Additionally, BSNL and MTNL have strongly lashed out at Trai for suggesting that the PSUs be given the responsibility of printing the directories. They have said that handing out this task to the PSUs was ‘discriminatory’ behaviour by Trai. Besides, taking potshots at Trai, MTNL said: “With approx. 20 lakh fixed-line subscribers in each metro, the number of volumes required will be huge.

In metros like Delhi/ Mumbai, subscribers may not be interested to fill their costly cupboard space with thick volumes of directory – that too at a price! Not to mention the environmental costs involved because of the quantum of paper likely to be used.”

“Even the district administrations and law enforcement agencies do not print so much of paper information (of all addresses) for distribution to all households – even when their data is comparatively static!,” the PSU added.

Adding a new dimension, COAI and other operators such as BSNL and Bharti have said that even fixedline customers must be included in the directory (if published) only after their consent is obtained. “BSNL is of the view that instead of ‘opt out’ approach, an ‘opt for’ approach may be followed i.e. the names of only those customers, who specifically opt for the same, should be included in the telephone directory to be printed by the authorised agencies licensees.” the PSU added.

[Honest 836]

^^^

That been a good thing if no such kind of directory being available for mobile numbers my dear friends.

Regards.