DoT directs issue of 13-digit mobile number for M2M communication

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has directed alltelecom operators in India to issue 13-digit mobile numbers for all existing machine-to-machine (M2M) customers.

As per the instructions, the M2M numbers will be implemented from July 1, 2018. The existing mobile users’ numbers will be ported to 13-digits starting from October 1, 2018, and the deadline for the completion has been decided for December 31, 2018.

To clear the speculation whether it would impact the mobile phone users in India, the DoT has made it clear that it has only asked existing 10-digit M2M numbers to change to the 13-digit number i.e machine-to-machine (M2M) number is meant for machines, the ones connected to the internet. M2M or SIM-based IOT devices will be the ones affected.

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The regular 10-digit mobile number used by everyone will remain unchanged.

Further, it was also conveyed that the readiness of Lawful Interception (LI) system has to be insured for the 13-digit number before 1st July 2018.

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) isthe interaction between devices and machines (it could be Airplane, ship, connected cars, or bicycle) that are connected to the internet and to each other. The M2M SIM card is required to connect these devices to the internet, though these can be used on regular mobiles as well.