8 Digit Pakistani Phone Numbers
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Rehan Allah Wala
May 6, 2009, 2:49:06 PM5/6/09
to telecom-gr...@googlegroups.com, pasha...@yahoogroups.com, za...@jamilandjamil.com, edi...@dawn.com, suzanne Bowen
On Behalf of the Cities of Pakistan.
It is come to our attention, that the PTA has asked the Local Loops including PTCL
to change the numbering plan from 7 digit to 8 Digit Numbers.
What this means is that all the numbers in Karachi and Lahore to start with will be
changed, and after a few months, no one will be able to call on the old numbers.
We explored on www.pta.gov.pk for any news about this, but did not find anything
so far on it.
The number change trial has already begun and people are getting calls with changed
caller id and a prefix of 3 attached to this.
Reason:
We believe that the reason for doing this is that PTA claims that the numbers series are exhausted and as time will pass it will become difficult to manage the numbers with 7 digits , similar to Hong Kong and Singapore.
Alternate Solution:
Unlike Hong Kong and Singapore, which are small countries of 4 million or so
people each, Pakistan is a vast big country of over 170 million people with only 8
million phone lines.
Unlike Hong Kong and Singapore, Pakistan has 99 area codes in the prefixes.
If the PTA and telecom companies feel and believe that more numbers are needed in
future, a new series for these cities similar to the ones for New York, and London
have been done can be introduced.
For example the new area code for Karachi can be 025
Negative Impact of this change:
If this change is taken place, their will be a huge economic loss to people of Pakistan
in shape of
- Stress: Most of the Pakistanis are non educated and when they will call these numbers that have been changed, and are not able to reach the person they are trying to reach, it will cause them stress and problems.
- New Stationary: All the businesses will need to re print all the stationary that they have as the numbers change.
- Yellow Pages will be useless: Over the years Pakistan has given away millions of yellow pages internationally, and when some one tries to call the old numbers listed in them, they will not be able to reach them, making financial losses to the economy.
- Loss of Contacts, local and International: When the caller is trying to call old numbers, they wont be able to find the new numbers specially the outside the country callers, as they wont even know how to get the new number from the called party.
Of course there will be a recording for a limited period of time, explaining the change
of number, but what happens 1 year from that time, are our old contacts not useful
any more after the period of time ?
Conclusion:
If a less difficult and easier remedy is available to the authorities, We think that the
easier way which is as good as any other way should be followed out and the number
series should NOT be changed.
For Comments please visit
IF you agree to this, Please sign the petetion on
Rehan Ahmed AllahWala
President & CEO - Super Technologies Inc.
http://www.supertec.com/ - Internet Telephony Solutions
Don't Remember Me ? Visit http://www.Rehan.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
By Gandhi.
Haris Shamsi
May 6, 2009, 11:02:11 PM5/6/09
to Telecom Grid Pakistan
Rehan,
to my knowldge this is going to happen with celluar phones as well
and (coorent me if i am wrong ) this all got started on the reuest of
mobile operators as its really a mess to maintain different prefixes
etc (routing,overheads etc etc)
we have observed a similar change in pakistan before - from 6 to 7
digits.
PTA as clear directives that all the operators have to maintian the
parallel operations for atleast 3-6 months. The operators also have to
run the iVRs to address the "stress issue" and operatorsare striving
to run area based IVRs messges (for exampein difefrent languages of
pakistan)
I think the ecosystem will manage the impact for the callers from
outside etc, mainly the business communication happens through emails
(in which you can easly update your signatures with new numbers.IMHO
we should all try to see this change with a 80-20 rule :)
On May 7, 12:49 am, "Rehan Allah Wala" <re...@supertec.com> wrote:
> On Behalf of the Cities of Pakistan.
>
> It is come to our attention, that the PTA has asked the Local Loops including PTCL
> to change the numbering plan from 7 digit to 8 Digit Numbers.
>
> What this means is that all the numbers in Karachi and Lahore to start with will be
> changed, and after a few months, no one will be able to call on the old numbers.
>
> We explored onwww.pta.gov.pkfor any news about this, but did not find anything
>
> Don't Remember Me ? Visithttp://www.Rehan.com
to my knowldge this is going to happen with celluar phones as well
and (coorent me if i am wrong ) this all got started on the reuest of
mobile operators as its really a mess to maintain different prefixes
etc (routing,overheads etc etc)
we have observed a similar change in pakistan before - from 6 to 7
digits.
PTA as clear directives that all the operators have to maintian the
parallel operations for atleast 3-6 months. The operators also have to
run the iVRs to address the "stress issue" and operatorsare striving
to run area based IVRs messges (for exampein difefrent languages of
pakistan)
I think the ecosystem will manage the impact for the callers from
outside etc, mainly the business communication happens through emails
(in which you can easly update your signatures with new numbers.IMHO
we should all try to see this change with a 80-20 rule :)
On May 7, 12:49 am, "Rehan Allah Wala" <re...@supertec.com> wrote:
> On Behalf of the Cities of Pakistan.
>
> It is come to our attention, that the PTA has asked the Local Loops including PTCL
> to change the numbering plan from 7 digit to 8 Digit Numbers.
>
> What this means is that all the numbers in Karachi and Lahore to start with will be
> changed, and after a few months, no one will be able to call on the old numbers.
>
> so far on it.
>
> The number change trial has already begun and people are getting calls with changed
> caller id and a prefix of 3 attached to this.
>
> Reason:
> We believe that the reason for doing this is that PTA claims that the numbers series
> are exhausted and as time will pass it will become difficult to manage the numbers
> with 7 digits , similar to Hong Kong and Singapore.
>
> Alternate Solution:
> Unlike Hong Kong and Singapore, which are small countries of 4 million or so
> people each, Pakistan is a vast big country of over 170 million people with only 8
> million phone lines.
>
> Unlike Hong Kong and Singapore, Pakistan has 99 area codes in the prefixes.
>
> If the PTA and telecom companies feel and believe that more numbers are needed in
> future, a new series for these cities similar to the ones for New York, and London
> have been done can be introduced.
>
> For example the new area code for Karachi can be 025
>
> Negative Impact of this change:
> If this change is taken place, their will be a huge economic loss to people of Pakistan
> in shape of
>
> * Stress: Most of the Pakistanis are non educated and when they will call these
>
> The number change trial has already begun and people are getting calls with changed
> caller id and a prefix of 3 attached to this.
>
> Reason:
> We believe that the reason for doing this is that PTA claims that the numbers series
> are exhausted and as time will pass it will become difficult to manage the numbers
> with 7 digits , similar to Hong Kong and Singapore.
>
> Alternate Solution:
> Unlike Hong Kong and Singapore, which are small countries of 4 million or so
> people each, Pakistan is a vast big country of over 170 million people with only 8
> million phone lines.
>
> Unlike Hong Kong and Singapore, Pakistan has 99 area codes in the prefixes.
>
> If the PTA and telecom companies feel and believe that more numbers are needed in
> future, a new series for these cities similar to the ones for New York, and London
> have been done can be introduced.
>
> For example the new area code for Karachi can be 025
>
> Negative Impact of this change:
> If this change is taken place, their will be a huge economic loss to people of Pakistan
> in shape of
>
> numbers that have been changed, and are not able to reach the person they
> are trying to reach, it will cause them stress and problems.
> * New Stationary: All the businesses will need to re print all the stationary that
> are trying to reach, it will cause them stress and problems.
> they have as the numbers change.
> * Yellow Pages will be useless: Over the years Pakistan has given away
> millions of yellow pages internationally, and when some one tries to call the
> old numbers listed in them, they will not be able to reach them, making
> financial losses to the economy.
> * Loss of Contacts, local and International: When the caller is trying to call old
> old numbers listed in them, they will not be able to reach them, making
> financial losses to the economy.
> numbers, they wont be able to find the new numbers specially the outside the
> country callers, as they wont even know how to get the new number from the
> called party.
>
> Of course there will be a recording for a limited period of time, explaining the change
> of number, but what happens 1 year from that time, are our old contacts not useful
> any more after the period of time ?
>
> Conclusion:
>
> If a less difficult and easier remedy is available to the authorities, We think that the
> easier way which is as good as any other way should be followed out and the number
> series should NOT be changed.
>
> For Comments please visit
>
> http://blogs.rehan.com/2009/05/8-digit-number-change-in-pakistan.html
>
> IF you agree to this, Please sign the petetion onhttp://apps.facebook.com/causes/280157/17203139?m=8897d250
> country callers, as they wont even know how to get the new number from the
> called party.
>
> Of course there will be a recording for a limited period of time, explaining the change
> of number, but what happens 1 year from that time, are our old contacts not useful
> any more after the period of time ?
>
> Conclusion:
>
> If a less difficult and easier remedy is available to the authorities, We think that the
> easier way which is as good as any other way should be followed out and the number
> series should NOT be changed.
>
> For Comments please visit
>
> http://blogs.rehan.com/2009/05/8-digit-number-change-in-pakistan.html
>
>
> Rehan Ahmed AllahWala
> President & CEO - Super Technologies Inc.
>
> http://www.supertec.com/- Internet Telephony Solutions
> Rehan Ahmed AllahWala
> President & CEO - Super Technologies Inc.
>
>
> Don't Remember Me ? Visithttp://www.Rehan.com
Muhammed Nasrullah
May 6, 2009, 11:19:37 PM5/6/09
to telecom-gr...@googlegroups.com
The reasons mentioned in your email against this change are not sound enough and comes off as a legacy business trying to fight off progress (do excuse me for saying so). You always have to give up the old to start with the new and changing stationaries and updating your contacts is no big deal. Ofcourse, you will have too update all your software and products which might seem as a bigger business reason for resisting this change rather than stationary.
H.M
May 7, 2009, 1:05:06 AM5/7/09
to Telecom Grid Pakistan
I am not supporting the idea of migration from 7 digit to 8 but if it
really happens then it will be far easier for common people of
Pakistan to remember dialling 3 before any local number rather than
remembering the New Area code for each city.
PTCL is still not confirming the real implementation date,heard of
June 1st & even sometime later ,on the other hand they have also
denied the recent trial of 8 digits in some press releases.
- H.M
On May 7, 8:19 am, Muhammed Nasrullah <nasrul...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The reasons mentioned in your email against this change are not sound enough
> and comes off as a legacy business trying to fight off progress (do excuse
> me for saying so). You always have to give up the old to start with the new
> and changing stationaries and updating your contacts is no big deal.
> Ofcourse, you will have too update all your software and products which
> might seem as a bigger business reason for resisting this change rather than
> stationary.
>
> On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 11:49 PM, Rehan Allah Wala <re...@supertec.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Behalf of the Cities of Pakistan.
>
> > It is come to our attention, that the PTA has asked the Local Loops
> > including PTCL to change the numbering plan from 7 digit to 8 Digit Numbers.
>
> > What this means is that all the numbers in Karachi and Lahore to start
> > with will be changed, and after a few months, no one will be able to call on
> > the old numbers.
>
> > We explored onwww.pta.gov.pkfor any news about this, but did not find
>
> > Don't Remember Me ? Visithttp://www.Rehan.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
really happens then it will be far easier for common people of
Pakistan to remember dialling 3 before any local number rather than
remembering the New Area code for each city.
PTCL is still not confirming the real implementation date,heard of
June 1st & even sometime later ,on the other hand they have also
denied the recent trial of 8 digits in some press releases.
- H.M
On May 7, 8:19 am, Muhammed Nasrullah <nasrul...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The reasons mentioned in your email against this change are not sound enough
> and comes off as a legacy business trying to fight off progress (do excuse
> me for saying so). You always have to give up the old to start with the new
> and changing stationaries and updating your contacts is no big deal.
> Ofcourse, you will have too update all your software and products which
> might seem as a bigger business reason for resisting this change rather than
> stationary.
>
> On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 11:49 PM, Rehan Allah Wala <re...@supertec.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Behalf of the Cities of Pakistan.
>
> > It is come to our attention, that the PTA has asked the Local Loops
> > including PTCL to change the numbering plan from 7 digit to 8 Digit Numbers.
>
> > What this means is that all the numbers in Karachi and Lahore to start
> > with will be changed, and after a few months, no one will be able to call on
> > the old numbers.
>
> > anything so far on it.
>
> > The number change trial has already begun and people are getting calls
> > with changed caller id and a prefix of 3 attached to this.
>
> > Reason:
> > We believe that the reason for doing this is that PTA claims that the
> > numbers series are exhausted and as time will pass it will become difficult
> > to manage the numbers with 7 digits , similar to Hong Kong and Singapore.
>
> > Alternate Solution:
> > Unlike Hong Kong and Singapore, which are small countries of 4 million
> > or so people each, Pakistan is a vast big country of over 170 million people
> > with only 8 million phone lines.
>
> > Unlike Hong Kong and Singapore, Pakistan has 99 area codes in the
> > prefixes.
>
> > If the PTA and telecom companies feel and believe that more numbers are
> > needed in future, a new series for these cities similar to the ones for New
> > York, and London have been done can be introduced.
>
> > For example the new area code for Karachi can be 025
>
> > Negative Impact of this change:
> > If this change is taken place, their will be a huge economic loss to
> > people of Pakistan in shape of
>
> > 1. Stress: Most of the Pakistanis are non educated and when they will
>
> > The number change trial has already begun and people are getting calls
> > with changed caller id and a prefix of 3 attached to this.
>
> > Reason:
> > We believe that the reason for doing this is that PTA claims that the
> > numbers series are exhausted and as time will pass it will become difficult
> > to manage the numbers with 7 digits , similar to Hong Kong and Singapore.
>
> > Alternate Solution:
> > Unlike Hong Kong and Singapore, which are small countries of 4 million
> > or so people each, Pakistan is a vast big country of over 170 million people
> > with only 8 million phone lines.
>
> > Unlike Hong Kong and Singapore, Pakistan has 99 area codes in the
> > prefixes.
>
> > If the PTA and telecom companies feel and believe that more numbers are
> > needed in future, a new series for these cities similar to the ones for New
> > York, and London have been done can be introduced.
>
> > For example the new area code for Karachi can be 025
>
> > Negative Impact of this change:
> > If this change is taken place, their will be a huge economic loss to
> > people of Pakistan in shape of
>
> > call these numbers that have been changed, and are not able to reach the
> > person they are trying to reach, it will cause them stress and problems.
> > 2. New Stationary: All the businesses will need to re print all the
> > person they are trying to reach, it will cause them stress and problems.
> > stationary that they have as the numbers change.
> > 3. Yellow Pages will be useless: Over the years Pakistan has given
> > away millions of yellow pages internationally, and when some one tries to
> > call the old numbers listed in them, they will not be able to reach them,
> > making financial losses to the economy.
> > 4. Loss of Contacts, local and International: When the caller is
> > call the old numbers listed in them, they will not be able to reach them,
> > making financial losses to the economy.
> > trying to call old numbers, they wont be able to find the new numbers
> > specially the outside the country callers, as they wont even know how to get
> > the new number from the called party.
>
> > Of course there will be a recording for a limited period of time,
> > explaining the change of number, but what happens 1 year from that time, are
> > our old contacts not useful any more after the period of time ?
>
> > Conclusion:
>
> > If a less difficult and easier remedy is available to the authorities,
> > We think that the easier way which is as good as any other way should be
> > followed out and the number series should NOT be changed.
>
> > For Comments please visit
>
> > http://blogs.rehan.com/2009/05/8-digit-number-change-in-pakistan.html
>
> > IF you agree to this, Please sign the petetion on
> > http://apps.facebook.com/causes/280157/17203139?m=8897d250
>
> > Rehan Ahmed AllahWala
> > President & CEO - Super Technologies Inc.
>
> > http://www.supertec.com/- Internet Telephony Solutions
> > specially the outside the country callers, as they wont even know how to get
> > the new number from the called party.
>
> > Of course there will be a recording for a limited period of time,
> > explaining the change of number, but what happens 1 year from that time, are
> > our old contacts not useful any more after the period of time ?
>
> > Conclusion:
>
> > If a less difficult and easier remedy is available to the authorities,
> > We think that the easier way which is as good as any other way should be
> > followed out and the number series should NOT be changed.
>
> > For Comments please visit
>
> > http://blogs.rehan.com/2009/05/8-digit-number-change-in-pakistan.html
>
> > IF you agree to this, Please sign the petetion on
> > http://apps.facebook.com/causes/280157/17203139?m=8897d250
>
> > Rehan Ahmed AllahWala
> > President & CEO - Super Technologies Inc.
>
>
> > Don't Remember Me ? Visithttp://www.Rehan.com
>
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you,
> > then you win."
> > By Gandhi.- Hide quoted text -
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you,
> > then you win."
>
> - Show quoted text -
Zaeem Arshad
May 7, 2009, 2:31:43 AM5/7/09
to telecom-gr...@googlegroups.com
+1 Nasr. On a related note, the stress of dealing with the current economic and security crisis in the country is far bigger than the stress caused by addition of a digit.Also, prefix change has happened in smaller cities like Multan a few years back and I don't remember a lash back.
Regards
--
Zaeem
Regards
--
Zaeem
Rehan Allah Wala
May 7, 2009, 5:25:16 AM5/7/09
to Telecom Grid Pakistan
I would like to remind you that there are 6 0r 7 million phone lines, and 80 million mobile
phones and every single person using a mobile has to dial 0xx-code ie 021 from his mobile
when he makes the call.
giving out a new number with a new area code wont be as big of a hassle as telling every one
a new number
http://www.supertec.com/ - Internet Telephony Solutions
Don't Remember Me ? Visit http://www.Rehan.com
phones and every single person using a mobile has to dial 0xx-code ie 021 from his mobile
when he makes the call.
giving out a new number with a new area code wont be as big of a hassle as telling every one
a new number
Don't Remember Me ? Visit http://www.Rehan.com
Haris Shamsi
May 7, 2009, 3:55:28 AM5/7/09
to telecom-gr...@googlegroups.com
Dear Rehan
parallel operations means that for atleast 3 to 6 months even if you
dial without 3 your call will be routed to the desired number. 6 month
time is enough to induce this into people.
We quickly forget the past :)
--
Sent from my mobile device
parallel operations means that for atleast 3 to 6 months even if you
dial without 3 your call will be routed to the desired number. 6 month
time is enough to induce this into people.
We quickly forget the past :)
Sent from my mobile device
Mansoor Adenwala
May 7, 2009, 4:32:43 AM5/7/09
to telecom-gr...@googlegroups.com
i agree with haris, it's not like we haven't survived it before?
if you remember the last change, the 2nd digit was introduced in each exchange, so in khi for example, 53xxxx became 583xxxx but some numbers, 51xxxxx i think, became 551xxxx. it was even more disturbing with the exchanges in the 4 and 2 area codes.
atleast this time, it's universal. whatever the old number, just add a 3 to it :)
IMHO, this time it's a much better thought out method than what we had before.
rgds--
-mansoor
I'm at.:.
http://www.wordofmansoor.com - My thoughts, my life
if you remember the last change, the 2nd digit was introduced in each exchange, so in khi for example, 53xxxx became 583xxxx but some numbers, 51xxxxx i think, became 551xxxx. it was even more disturbing with the exchanges in the 4 and 2 area codes.
atleast this time, it's universal. whatever the old number, just add a 3 to it :)
IMHO, this time it's a much better thought out method than what we had before.
rgds
-mansoor
I'm at.:.
http://www.wordofmansoor.com - My thoughts, my life
H.M
May 7, 2009, 5:22:42 AM5/7/09
to Telecom Grid Pakistan
adding Mansoor,codes at Gulistan-e-Johar was entirely changed but we
still manage to cope with it 811,812,813 migrating to 461,462,363 etc.
> > >> > > We explored onwww.pta.gov.pkforany news about this, but did not
> > >> > > http://www.supertec.com/-Internet Telephony Solutions
still manage to cope with it 811,812,813 migrating to 461,462,363 etc.
>
> > >> > > Don't Remember Me ? Visithttp://www.Rehan.com
>
> > >> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > >> > > "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight
> > you,
> > >> > > then you win."
> > >> > > By Gandhi.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > >> > - Show quoted text -
>
> > > Rehan Ahmed AllahWala
> > > President & CEO - Super Technologies Inc.
>
> > >http://www.supertec.com/- Internet Telephony Solutions
>
> > > Don't Remember Me ? Visithttp://www.Rehan.com
>
> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then
> > > you win."
> > >> > > Don't Remember Me ? Visithttp://www.Rehan.com
>
> > >> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > >> > > "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight
> > you,
> > >> > > then you win."
> > >> > > By Gandhi.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > >> > - Show quoted text -
>
> > > Rehan Ahmed AllahWala
> > > President & CEO - Super Technologies Inc.
>
> > >http://www.supertec.com/- Internet Telephony Solutions
>
> > > Don't Remember Me ? Visithttp://www.Rehan.com
>
> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then
> > > you win."
> > > By Gandhi.
>
> > --
> > Sent from my mobile device
>
> --
> -mansoor
> I'm at.:.http://www.wordofmansoor.com - My thoughts, my life- Hide quoted text -
>
> > --
> > Sent from my mobile device
>
> --
> -mansoor
Haris Shamsi
May 7, 2009, 11:10:54 PM5/7/09
to telecom-gr...@googlegroups.com
http://www.pta.gov.pk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1154&catid=95&Itemid=229
this link might help understanding (at a very high level) the 7-8
digit migration ...
this link might help understanding (at a very high level) the 7-8
digit migration ...
Tee Emm
May 8, 2009, 3:40:20 AM5/8/09
to telecom-gr...@googlegroups.com
I meant to mention this many times earlier as well but PTA URLs don't work when accessed directly. So if you want to share something, share the PDF or its link instead (untill the PTA webmaster wakes up and fix this issue).
-T
--
Tariq Mustafa MSN:t...@hotmail.com | Follow me: http://friendfeed.com/abunet
Phone Num:http://tinyurl.com/tmcell| Twitter: http://twitter.com/tariqmustafa
>>>>If you think email is dead, lets facebook: http://tinyurl.com/tmonfb <<<<<
Tariq Mustafa MSN:t...@hotmail.com | Follow me: http://friendfeed.com/abunet
Phone Num:http://tinyurl.com/tmcell| Twitter: http://twitter.com/tariqmustafa
>>>>If you think email is dead, lets facebook: http://tinyurl.com/tmonfb <<<<<
Muhammed Nasrullah
May 8, 2009, 3:47:44 AM5/8/09
to telecom-gr...@googlegroups.com
Its a lame implementation to avoid "hot-linking", just open the URL twice, it'll work (as long as the referrer looks like its coming from pta.gov.pk)
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