New Delhi, Sept 27: The private cellular operators seem to be heading for a clash with BSNL, which would soon launch its cellular services, by threatening to block the latter's traffic emanating from mobile number prefixed with 94 access level. This would mean that subscribers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd's upcoming 'Cell One' cellular services, who are allotted a mobile number starting with 94 number, would not be able to send or receive calls from private cellular network in the country.
When contacted, COAI director general T V Ramachandran told reporters "we are open to accepting BSNL cellular traffic on 98 number but 94 access level traffic is a matter of dispute".
It is understood that COAI's technical and regulatory committees have taken a view that 10 digit number with prefix 94 allotted to BSNL will give the state-run company a marketing and technical USP which is unacceptable to cellular operators.
"There is no shortage of 98 numbers to meet BSNL's requirements but why has dot allotted a 94 number to BSNL cellular services," cellular sources said. Bureau Report