CAT told to avoid 11-digit numbers

       The telecom regulator recently warned CAT Telecom to stop the alleged use of 11-digit mobile phone numbers to contact other cellular networks, since no such numbers have yet to be assigned to any network.
       Praset Apipunya, deputy secretary-general of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), said the use of 11-digit numbers contravenes the NTC's numbering regulations.
       A CAT source said the warning was aimed at Hutchison-CAT Wireless Multimedia but was sent to CAT because CAT, as the licensee of the NTC, was allocated 10-digit mobile phone numbers, which CAT in turn assigned to Hutch to use in marketing its cellular service.
       Hutch is a joint venture of CAT and Hong Kong-based Hutchison Telecom.
       The source said CAT has already asked Hutch if it was providing the service with 11-digit phone numbers but Hutch rejected the claim. CAT will inform the NTC about Hutch's denial.
       The NTC's warning states that CAT would face a fine of Bt20,000 per day, if it does not stop the alleged use of 11-digit phone numbers.
       All telecom operators get their phone numbers from the NTC. Local mobile phone numbers usually have 10 digits.
       The NTC started an investigation in April when it found that 11-digit numbers had been used to call customers of True Move, Advanced Info Service (AIS) and Total Access Communication (DTAC).
       In May the NTC ordered CAT to ask Hutch about the case. CAT then informally asked Hutch about the case and Hutch denied it.
       In June True Move sought police help to find out what 11-digit mobile phone service was sending calls to its customers. True Move said it wants to protect its network from being contacted by what it calls illegal numbers and that it is also losing interconnection fee income because it does not know which network to charge.