Landline users must add "0" to call any mobile from January 1

Now Telecom subscribers must add the prefix "0" when calling from a landline to any mobile phone number as of January 1, 2021.

The decision has been made to ensure adequate numbering resources for landline and mobile services. TRAI, Telecoms regulator had recommended the move in May 2020.

A DoT's November 20 circular said that all the landline subscribers should be provided with '0' dialling facility and STD dialling facility. All telecom service operators have given time until January 1 to implement the directive.

DoT said that appropriate announcements could be placed on landline switches to inform landline subscribers of the requirement to dial the prefix "0" for all landline-to-mobile calls. This ad must be played every time a subscriber dials a call from a landline to mobile without prefixing the number with "0".

However, the regulator had said that the introduction of dialling a prefix for a particular type of call does not amount to increasing the number of digits in the phone number.