DoT all set to unveiled dedicated for tele-marketers

In an effort to put an end to the pesky calls and SMSes, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is set to unveil a dedicated landline number, which would help in identifying telemarketing calls, with in a month.

"The DoT has sorted the issue to allot the number series for landline consumers with the security agencies. Now it's a matter of another one month that consumers will get much needed relief from the unsolicited calls and SMSes," The Economic Times reported, quoting a senior telecom ministry official.

The country had a total of 861.48 million telecom users as on April-end, with an overall tele-density (phones per 100 people) of 72.08, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

to put a check on unsolicited calls and SMSes,  telecom regulator TRAI had asked DoT to allocate an easily identifiable number series for telemarketing companies. While a series beginning with '140' was allocated to mobile services, a separate identifiable number series for landline numbers hasn't been allocated yet.

The DoT had pointed out various technical, billing and security concerns in issuing a number series for landline services.

A call from a landline number can be identified based on the STD code - the initial digits and levels (digits following STD codes  - which differ from exchange to exchange within a city.