A day after a news surfaced that the Department of Telecom had reportedly issued a directive to all telecom operators in the country to start providing 13-digit mobile numbers, grand old Congress party ran a poll on their official twitter handle asking people about their opinion.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) has issued a directive instructing all telecom operators in the country to start issuing 13-digit mobile numbers later this year. Are you happy with this decision? #IndiaSpeaks
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 22, 2018
Various headlines suggested that the Department of Telecom had reportedly issued a directive to all telecom operators in the country to start providing 13-digit mobile numbers. This news led to much confusion, and it was assumed that mobile phone numbers which are currently 10 digits will be converted to 13 digits by the end of the year.
FACT CHECK
Later it was revealed that the news about the 13-digit mobile number is not true. As per the notification, new numbers are to be provided for SIM-based Machine To Machine (M2M) communication. It will NOT extend to retail mobile phone numbers, which will continue to operate on 10 digits.
BSNL, in fact, clarified the confusion on February 21st rubbishing that news of 13-digit mobile number. But Congress without clarifying the fact ran the poll.
There is no change in mobile numbering plan which remains 10 digit. #BSNL preparing for machine to machine (m2m) communication where in 13 digit numbering scheme shall be used to connect billions of machines.
— BSNL India (@BSNLCorporate) February 21, 2018
