Discuss ways in which the current telephone numbering plan can be extended to accommodate the rapid demand for more telephone numbers. (See if you can find some of the proposals coming from the telecommunications industry.) For each new numbering plan you discuss, show how to find the number of different telephone numbers it supports.

To increase numbering resources, so as to cater to the rising demand for telephone numbers:

The first way is to move on to 11-digit numbering scheme for mobile and continuing with 10-digit numbering for fixed line services and shifting data only mobile numbers (like dongle connections) from 10 digits to 13 digit numbering. This can produce 1010 x 3 which is 3 times more than the current number system.

The second way is to use number series start from 3, 5 and 6, etc. The current provision of 10-digit mobile numbers starting with 9, 8 and 7 have a total capacity to grant 2.1 billion connections. By using this system we can produce 6 x 910 which is also 3 times more than the current number system.

India has reviewed its numbering plan twice earlier – 1993 and in 2003.

The new numbering plan in 2003 created space for 750 million telephone connections – 450 million cellular mobile and 300 million basic phones, factoring in a 50% tele-density by the year 2030.