The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Bahrain has issued a consultation paper on its updated National Numbering Plan (NNP).

“Managing a scarce national resource such as numbering is a key function of any telecom regulatory body.  With the newly proposed NNP, we are aiming to be even more efficient and effective in allocating numbers to licensed services providers,” said TRA’s technical & operations director Mohammed Alnoaimi.

“The current National Numbering Plan was developed in 2008 and since then the technological changes that have been taking place in telecommunications industry have triggered the need to review the way in which numbers are used and allocated. The proposed numbering plan would be technologically neutral thereby allowing the licensed service providers to offer services without being bound to a specific technology,” he added.

The proposed NNP will introduce new five-digit short codes for premium on-net messaging (SMS) with a preset cap tariff of BD3 ($7.9). These SMS short codes would include ranges starting with digits 81, 85, 88, 91, 95 and 98.

The use of SMS short codes by service providers will be governed through the proposed NNP to ensure that the consumers’ interests are protected and to minimize disruption and inconveniences caused due to promotional SMS’ activities.

Furthermore, TRA proposes additional remedies related to numbering to ensure national security measures for consumer benefits are in place as well as to help the authority to achieve a milestone of implementing a National Numbering Directory for Bahrain, a statement said.

The consultation paper on the proposed NNP can be viewed on TRA’s website at tra.org.bh.

TRA has invited parties concerned to review and provide their comments to the Authority by no later than July 2. – TradeArabia News Service