Directory for mobile phones says Government

New Delhi, Dec 6: The government is examining the demand for telephone directory of mobile phone subscribers and creating directory enquiry service for them, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Shakeel Ahmad said in as written reply that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has given its recommendations favouring printing of telephone directory and directory enquiry service.

However, the mobile phone operators were not in favour of publishing directory of mobile subscribers.

They cited, during consultation process and discussion held by TRAI, rapid growth of mobile subscribers and high churn, privacy issues and bulkness of the printed directory as reasons. They also pointed out that a majority of the customers were in prepaid category.

He said though the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) supported mandatory Directory Enquiry Services for fixed lines, it was not in favour of Directory Enquiry Services for mobile customers because of privacy issues and personal communication issues.

UNI