Mobile Numbers Echo System & Cooling Exchange Solution

© 2020, WAJES All Rights Reserved 1

World Academics Journal of ___________________________________________ Research Paper . Engineering Sciences

Vol.7, Issue.3, pp.01-12, September (2020) E-ISSN: 2348-635X DOI: https://doi.org/10.26438/wajes/v7i3.112

Mobile Numbers Echo System & Cooling Exchange Solution addressing

the challenges of Recycled Mobile Numbers

K.S. Srinivas1, M. Satya Prasad

2*, K. Ram Narayana

3

1SDE (Retired) BSNL, Visakhapatnam, India

2AGM, BSNL, Visakhapatnam, India

3ASNM Govt College (A), Palakol, India

*Corresponding Author: [email protected]; Tel.: +91-9490000137

Available online at: www.isroset.org

Received: 02/Jun/2020, Accepted: 24/Aug/2020, Online: 30/Sept/2020

Abstract: Increased penetration/adoption of mobile telephone services, usage of smart devices, having multiple mobile

numbers by a single customer has created a huge demand of mobile connections, but unable to meet the supply of enough

new numbering resources as per demand leading to re-use of permanently disconnected mobile phone numbers

(Recycling) to acquire new customers by Telecom service providers. Being mobile number is crucial data informatics in

the on-going business systems/market, the practice of Recycling of mobile numbers left with inconveniences to the present

& previous user of that number and business firms (on-line or off-line) who uses the mobile number as a reference. To

overcome the difficulties raised due to recycled mobile numbers, in this article, a broad study made on the mobile

number's environment and listed various stakeholders surrounded a mobile number. As a result, we proposed few possible

alternatives, Standards, uniform practices and developed a Cooling Exchange concept as a common platform among

stakeholders of mobile numbers to address the challenges raised due to Recycled mobile numbers

Keywords— Mobile Phone Numbers, Re-use (or) Re-Cycling (or) Re-Allotment (or) Re-assignment of mobile phone

numbers, Phone Number Cycle, Phone number echo-system, Mobile Number as crucial data informatics, Solution for

consequences & challenges of recycled mobile phone numbers. Cooling period, Common Platform, Cooling Exchange for

MobileNumbers.

I. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background Using mobile services by a normal person is a basic need

across the globe. Mobile subscribing is increasing

continuously for the past many years due to technology

adoption as well as affordable tariffs/rates offered. Many

times it is observed that people are having multiple mobile

connections, i.e. using more than one mobile connection by

a single user. This is caused by the paucity of fresh mobile

numbers for allotting new connections. This situation is

leading to the re-cycle of mobile numbers, i.e. re-use of

disconnected/closed mobile numbers after certain periods

(example: after a gap of Grace Periods-1 (GP1) & grace

Period-2(GP2) – in India) and re-allotting for new mobile

connections. The scenario of recycled mobile numbers,

it's stakeholders, and to arrive at a possible solution to

overcome the difficulties/challenges are dealt with in this

paper.

1.2.ITU Standards

International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is the

global telecommunications standards body. ITU-T E.164

is the international public telecommunication numbering

plan recommendations of ITU and is the basis of the

numbering plan of all Nations. This numbering plan is

composed of a variable number of decimal digits arranged

in specific code fields.

The International ITU-T E.164 number for geographic

areas is composed of decimal digits arranged in two code

fields: the country code (CC) and the National (significant)

Number N(S)N. The National (Significant) Number may

be further subdivided into National Destination Code

(NDC) and Subscriber Number (SN) fields, according to

National requirements.

II. RELATED WORK

a. The subject is a new dimension/orientation and there is

no specific literature is available as on date. Through the

web few on-line write-ups / news items/web informatics

related to this topic taken as the basis for the study on the

recycling of the mobile numbers. Almost all of them

focused on experiences of individual customers, and few

are purely informative in nature to caution about the

consequences that arise at the time of changing their

mobile number, as well few are about advising customers

in this regard. The details of a few of them are as

follows:

b. Shri. Ashok Goyal, through an online portal, [7]

explained the importance of change/disconnection of the

mobile number which was earlier used/registered for bank

accounts/loans/social media, etc. In this write-up, it also

mentioned about the possibilities & adverse effects on both

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World Academics Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol.7, Issue.3, Sept 2020


the previous & current users because of recycled mobile

number with an example.

c. Times of India [8] described a live example, where a

customer experiences sleep-less night due to the allotment

of the re-cycled number. It also expressed that there is no

information to the customer that they are getting an earlier

used number as their new mobile connection. There is no

mechanism to count the number of re-cycles had on a

mobile number.

d. A security researcher Linus Särud [9] explained the risks

posed by recycled mobile numbers. Detailed the risk as

mobile number is being used for on-line services (with

examples of email, Twitter, Face book), how disconnected

& re-cycled numbers, if hackers targets what will be the

security threat with possible examples in case of an e-mail,

twitter, Face book accounts.

e. Mr. Farshad Family, Managing Director – Media,

Nielsen India[10] in a detailed study (across 18 cities in

India) the increase of usage of more than 1 mobile

connection by a single person as well shifting towards

multi-SIM mobile handsets to have effective control.

f. Solomon T, a digital epidemiologist expressed [11]

based on personal experiences of having a new mobile

connection with a recycled number. The in-convenience

happened with financial institutions (loan recovery) as well

as the difficulty faced for availing services of on-line

aggregator services (UBER).

g. David Lazarus, in a business article,[12] writes about

the recycling of mobile numbers by various telecom

companies and the experiences of receiving messages &

premium bills which was signed by the earlier user of that

mobile number.

h. In their recent news article "Have you ever wondered

what happens to your old mobile phone number?" Synergy,

a telecom solutions firm [13] expressed their views on

possible threats of recycling of mobile numbers. "recycled

numbers can become problematic" for the recipient, like

many apps, including Gmail and Face book, use mobile

number for password recovery or as an alternative way to

sign in to the account. That process also constitutes a

similar risk regarding the exposure of previous customer's

contact details to the present user of that recycled number.

Many apps now use mobile phone numbers as an

additional way to provide security to an account.

Therefore, if a customer changes their mobile number but

fails to update their phone number in the app's settings, it's

quite possible that if the new owner of that number uses

the same app, that person could see earlier user's profile

when entering that phone number to access the app.

Rising of demand, having multiple mobile numbers by a

single person, usage of mobile number as a

reference/verification by all major on-line/off-line

entities/firms/service providers or product suppliers, fast

adoption of smart phones, affordable tariffs/prices, etc.,

leading various effects due to recycling of mobile numbers

as per the literature study.

In almost all the above references, there is no specific way-

out proposed or attempted to overcome the adverse effects

of the recycling of mobile numbers as a whole.

Objective:

The environment of mobile number becoming complex in

this data-science era, it is felt that there is a requirement of

systematic understanding of things around a mobile

number and initiated to spelled-out about the purpose of

study objectives:

Review the echo system/environment of mobile phone

numbers

Finding stakeholders surrounded a mobile number

Overview of the consequences of recycling mobile

numbers among customers as well as business

Apprise mobile number as a multi-dimensional crucial

data

Find way-out options to handle the adverse effects of

recycling of mobile numbers.

If recycling of mobile numbers is unavoidable, then how

to overcome or minimize the adverse effects of such

recycling.

III. METHODOLOGY

1. Phone Number – Customer Cycle: In general practice among all Mobile Service Providers i.e.

TSPs, they maintain some grace period/s after

disconnection of phone number by the customer due to

non-recharge if pre-paid (GP1 & GP2 in India), non-

payment of the bill if post-paid or any other reason, if the

customer did not claim their number within that grace

periods, that number will be treated as "free" and keep

TSPs shelf for recycling. Basing on requirements the same

number will be reassigned to the new customer after a

certain period.

“Customer-1 cycle” of a phone number is diametrically

shown in the following

Figure-1 Customer-1 cycle



Date-1 to Date-2 Customer-1 usage time

Date 2

Customer-1 discontinued or discarded this phone number

from this date.

Date-2 to Date-3

Customer -1 has the opportunity to get back the same

number back.

After Date-3

The phone number will be vacant and under the control of

Tele-service Provider-a

On some occasions, during the customer usage period, the

customer might be ported (through mobile number

portability- MNP) from present Tele-Service Provider –A

(TSP-A) to another Tele-service provider (say TSP-B).

After porting to TSP-B, the customer may discard their

phone number permanently, in that case, that number will

be returned to TSP-A after the Date-3 by TSP-B as a

practice in India.

Basing on the availability of spare numbering capacity,

Telecom service provides re-use/re-allot discarded phone

numbers as a new number to other customers.

Refer below fig.2, where-in a fresh phone number PN1

provided initially to customer-1, later re-cycling the same

number PN1 assigned to new customer-2, and so on. In

this case, the PN1 phone number has different customer’s

viz., customer-1, customer-2..............customer-n at various

periods.

Figure.2 Time-line of a mobile number ‘PN1’: In a span of about

1500 days from the first allotment of a fresh mobile number PN1,

first time issued to customer-1 on day 1, after 1st recycling, this

number PN1 provided to Customer-2 on day 750, …..and so on,

after pth recycling, the mobile number PN1 provided to Customer-

n on day 1500

During the customer-1 cycle, PN1 might have been

recorded/registered with various UMNDRs (i.e. with

various web/mobile APP services, banks/offices,

individuals, etc.), among them, made by customer-1 and

might be noted/saved at many other places without

concern/ knowledge of customer-1. Communication

happens among all these entities say as "User of Mobile

Number as Data Record/reference (UMNDRs)” &

customer-1. Majority of communications made by

UMNDRs be in the form of Messages, OTPs, or pre-

recorded automatic voice intimations/messages and rarely

manual phone calls. Basing on the customer-1 usage

pattern of this mobile number PN1, this mobile number

might attain certain marketing/sales attributes and

circulates across various databases.

After some period, customer-1 changed his/her mobile

number. Once, customer-1 disconnects/discards this PN1

mobile number permanently and if all those UMNDRs

may not have information about this change, they continue

their records as "PN1with Customer-1". By recycling this

mobile number, after a certain period, PN1 will be allotted

to customer-2. Now, all the communications made by

UMNDRs on PN1 reach customer-2 leading to in-

convenience to Customer-2 and business damage of

UMNDR, as well as the loss of sensitive information of

customer-1. Possibility of attraction to litigation. If

customer-2 disconnected this number permanently, again

recycling, PN1 will be allotted to customer-3....and so on

to customer-n. Ultimately, UMNDRs have "PN1 with

customer-1", "PN1 with customer-2", and so on "PN1 with

customer-n". Now, all the communications made in

respect of customer-1, customer-2....will be received by

customer-n. This is one of the big challenges of recycled

numbers.

Rare case, if, any specific UMNDR (say particular popular

web site) who is having information of customer-1 and the

same UMNDR is also having information of customer-2,

then, there is a chance of stopping of communication by

this particular UMNDR to customer-1 on PN1.

At the time of getting a new mobile connection, TSP or

through their sales channel (i.e. Dealer / Distributor /

Franchisee / Retailer /etc.) are normally not disclosing

about the allotted mobile number is a fresh number or re-

cycled number.

2. Mobile Number – A Crucial Data Informatics

a. Role of Mobile Number

The mobile number is gaining its significance for the past

few years. The list is big, but to explain the level of

mobile number, a few of such things mentioned below:

At many of the on-line/off-line service/product delivery

firms/providers are using a mobile number as the major

reference to identify their customers or to communicate

with their customers. i.e. instead of a name, at many

shopping counters, it is common to ask first, "what is

your mobile number", to register the mobile number or



to retrieve customer's history/details from their

systems.

The majority of on-line portals/APPs are sending a

One-time password (OTP) to customer's mobile

number as one of their conformity tools. As well, brief

usage reports/details/updates, etc., being sent to the

mobile number.

The mobile number became the

representative/reference of the customer for all the

purposes either in business/domestic needs.

Figure.3Role of a Mobile Number

In the recent past, one of the most popular mobile

applications (WHATS-UP), was developed basing on

the uniqueness of the mobile number.

With-out mentioning the mobile number one cannot

register/apply on any on-line services or order on-line

products including delivery/getting of Government

schemes/services.

b. Circulation of mobile number across various

databases The mobile number became crucial "information" in the

database of almost all systems globally. Another way, we

can say that in this digital era a customer/person is being

identified through the mobile number. Web sites / search

engines / Mobile-apps /etc. collects data and creates

marketing/sales/analytics data-base for future business, so

that a mobile number along with its attributes circulates

across various product/services platforms, that too with-out

control of the actual owner of that mobile number.

Now, if a subscriber of a particular mobile number closed

that number, then all the places where this mobile number

stored are to be de-linked with this particular subscriber.

But, presently it is not happening, if the

subscriber/customer intimates to all the points where the

number is stored/registered, but practically not possible, as

no-one can spell out at how many locations one mobile

number is stored/registered and this information circulates

across various databases with-out the control of the actual

user of that mobile number. And if that mobile number

has been re-cycled, i.e. allotted to another subscriber as a

new connection, all the communications related to earlier

users will be delivered to the new subscriber of this mobile

number leads to wrong-communication. This is the most

irritating situation to the new user of the re-cycled number

as well as business loss to the company/firm.

The above situation happens at Business to Business,

Business to Customer levels. But, at a personal level also

i.e. Person to Person, wrong-communication happens.

Consider, some other situation, where, people maintain

their contact list i.e. mobile numbers in their mobile

phone/books. After certain periods, few of the contacts

might be discontinued/closed leading to out-dated details

in the mobile phone-books. In a later date, if those closed

mobiles numbers re-cycled, resulting wrong-

communication among them.

c. Stakeholders of Mobile Number echo system

The following are the major stake-holders for the present

subject:

Tele-service Provides

Users of Mobile Number as data record/reference

(Individuals / organizations /firms / institutions /web-

sites /apps /etc.)

Mobile Customers

Figure.4 Phone Number Echo System

d. Role of Stakeholders

(i) National Authorities

The National Numbering controller or licenser normally

allots mobile numbers to TSPs basing on the demand &

availability of spare numbering resources.

(ii) Telecom service providers (TSP)

TSPs are mobile service providers who issue new phone

connections and maintain the telecom echo system for the

functioning of mobile communications. To meet the

demand for new connections and in the absence of

allotment of fresh mobile number series, TSPs have the

only option to re-cycle the closed/discontinued mobile



numbers after certain periods. Thus, people get re-cycled

mobile numbers as a new mobile connection.

As the people themselves share their mobile numbers to

multiple people/apps/firms/websites etc., it leads to the

presence of their mobile numbers in various databases of

various firms. The TSPs do not have any control over it to

withdraw such records whenever the customer drops that

mobile number.

(iii) The user of Mobile Number as Data

Record/reference (UMNDRs)

Firms/companies, web applications/sites, Mobile APPs,

online/offline service providers, individuals, etc. have the

mobile number of their clients as a record/reference to

provide their services/products. Once the mobile number

provided by their client, these mobile numbers will be kept

in their database after due verification (ex: sending OTP

and confirming the same or any other industry practices).

These UMNDRs does not know if the customer drops their

mobile number or if the same mobile number allotted to

another customer. Sometimes this situation creates an

adverse business impact on UMNDRs.

(iv) Mobile Customers (Present & Previous users of a

mobile number)

Customers may share their mobile numbers during the

usage of mobile numbers due to present-day requirements.

Whenever customers drop their mobile number/changes

their mobile number, an intimation of number change will

be normally provided to few as per their

importance/priority. To convey all points, it is not possible

to track/remember how many points their mobile number

is passed/registered/recorded.

As discussed above, none of the stake-hold themselves has

control over this situation leading to un-

comfort/frustration/agony to the new user of the re-cycled

mobile number as well the adverse business impact to

various firms/companies (i.e UMNDRs).

e. Fresh Number Vs re-cycled number as a new mobile

connection:

A brief comparison is presented in the following table, to

understand the major difference between having a fresh

mobile number versus a recycled mobile number as a new

connection.

Table 1: Fresh number V/s Re-cycled Number

New mobile connection with

re-cycled number

New mobile connection

with

fresh number

The user will be the “nth” person

of this mobile number

The user will be the first

person to use this mobile

number

This mobile number might have

been used/stored/registered in

multiple locations by previous

users of this mobile number.

No, where this mobile

number stored until this user

used this mobile number for

registration for various

services/products on-line/off-

line.

Receives communication of

earlier users in the form of

OTPs/Messages/Calls/etc.

Till this user canvas this

mobile number, nobody

knows to communicate with

this mobile number.

Faces difficulty to get registered

in popular websites/Mobile APPs,

as such chances are high that

earlier users utilized this

number.

Get instant acceptance in

any/popular websites/Mobile

APPs, as such this mobile

number was not used earlier

by anybody for the same

purpose.

Initial days, the disturbance

causes due to the communication

of previous users. Sometimes the

disturbance/agony raised due to

communication pertains to earlier

users received by this new user.

No specific disturbance.

f. Two sides of recycling of mobile number:

Recycling can be viewed in the point of various

stakeholders as follows:

Table 2: TSP side V/s another side of Recycling

TSP side Another side

1.TSPs need not procure ‘new

lot of mobile numbers”.

2.No need to enhance their

mobile number database,

billing servers, and related

components in their

hardware/software.

3.They can meet the demand

in the market and acquire new

customers.

4.Spare number capacity

creates on its own, whenever

customers are closing their

numbers.

1.The previous user of mobile

number loses their

profile/personal information to a

different person, who is the new

user of that recycled mobile

number.

2.UMNDRs unable to upkeep

their database leading adverse

business impact.

3.Recycling is one of the major

sources of wrong

communication.

4.The disturbance created to the

Present user of recycled mobile

number due to receiving the

communication (Messages, calls,

OTPs, etc.) belongs to the

previous user/s of that mobile

number.

f. Possible Alternatives to reduce/minimize the effects

of recycled mobile numbers Basing on the analysis & study, the following are the

possible way-out options to overcome the difficulties that

arise due to mobile number recycling.

(i) Way-out option no.1: “100% avoid recycling"

Always provides a fresh number for every new mobile

connection. Once disconnected number never used again.

In this case, there will be no issue with the recycling of

mobile numbers. Such a nation might be of less population

and plenty of mobile numbering resources available.

(ii) Way-out option no.2: “Fix maximum possible

mobile numbers that a customer can have” If crossed the limit, the earlier disconnected number by the

same customer will be reassigned back to that same

customer.* Countries, if they are locked with present

numbering plan, and able to arrive and implement

“possible maximum mobile numbers that can have a



customer in their country”, under this solution, a number

cannot be assigned to another customer. The telecom

technology/echo system is to have such an arrangement as

well as acceptance of such limitations in their society &

customers. This concept can be better explained with this

example: In a country where one customer "A" can have a

maximum of 9 mobile connections at a time. Here, the first

9 connections taken by "A" will be fixed for "A", and the

10th

connection cannot be given to "A". If anyone of

mobile number among these 9 numbers was earlier

disconnected by "A" that number can be given again to "A"

and will not be assigned to any other customer say "B".

There may be different limits for personal and business

use.

* "A portion of customers/entities are hiding behind

disconnected mobile numbers to safeguard themselves

from their unlawful actions". This way-out option/concept

will be a suggested solution to enforce such activities.

This solution also may be considered as a time-gap

arrangement, until that country can go for other options. To

implement this option, it is required to find the uniqueness

of a user (customer/entity), so that it can be controlled to

have a maximum allowed mobile numbers by a single user

as prescribed under this alternative option.

(iii) Way-out option no.3: "increase the mobile number

length” Increase the number of digits of mobile number,

keeping ITU numbering plan standards. This solution

certainly gives a lot more numbering resources, so that

there will be no requirement for mobile number recycling.

But all the mobile numbers of stakeholders need to

upgrade/invest in their entire techno-commercial

environment to suits the new length of mobile numbers.

(iv) Way-out option no. 4: "formulate common

measures/practices/platforms” If options 1, 2, or 3 are not possible, where recycling is un-

avoidable, to reduce the difficulties raised due to the

recycling of mobile numbers, it is the first step to list out

all possible challenges so that a robust solution (is to find

out new practices & establishing a common platform) is be

developed.

As discussed in earlier parts of this paper, the summary of

the challenges that are to be addressed is as follows:

To overcome the inconvenience to the next user of the

recycled mobile number

To protect privacy loss of the previous user of that

mobile number

The loss happened to UMNDRs due to wrong

communication as well to minimize the

litigation/complaints.

To enable UMNDRs to rectify outdated contacts due

to recycling

Figure-5 Gap resulting Wrong Communication

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

1.The broad vision of the expected solution

(in case recycling of mobile numbers is unavoidable –

Way-out option-4)

Keeping because of involvement of major stakeholders i.e.

Telecom Service provides (TSPs), User of Mobile Number

as Data Record/reference (UMNDRs), present/previous

users of mobile numbers broad objectives for the expected

solution is established as follows.

(a) W.r.t new customer of re-cycled mobile number

After taking a new mobile connection with a re-cycled

number, a person should not suffer by receiving various

kinds of messages; calls, etc. intended for the previous

owner(s) of his/her mobile number.

(b) W.r.t UMNDRs

After its client's mobile number is changed, a firm should

be able to know about this change and stop communicating

on

that mobile number even though the client has not

informed the firm that he/she has discontinued his/her

mobile number.

(c) W.r.t Previous User of a mobile number

After disconnecting his/her connection, a person should

not become a victim by losing his/her sensitive information

to a different person.

(d) W.r.t Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)

TSPs should have the ability to provide new connections

without losing their new customers at the same time taking

all possible steps to minimize the adverse effects of using a

mobile number as data record by various

firms/organizations/on-line services. And also take care of

the interests of previous/present mobile customers.



2.The solution to overcome the difficulties of recycled

mobile numbers To achieve the above objectives, actions are to be initiated

by concerned administration /authorities/regulators in the

nation to redefine certain processes, procedures, measures

to enable stakeholders to address the problem and remove

the gap (Ref Fig-5). The major steps to be taken in this

direction are as follows:

(a) Re-defining Re-Cycling process At present after permanent disconnection of mobile

number, a certain period (60 to 90 days) as a gap is being

maintained by TSP’s for re-assigning such mobile numbers

as new mobile connections.

This practice may be fit for the periods when people use to

note down the contact phone numbers in their diary, and

offices maintain phone numbers in their register books as

well using phone services only for voice calls. But, now,

even to login into any 2FA on-line system, OTP is to be

received on their mobile number, to do bank transaction /

to book tickets / to register for any mobile app / to order

food/product/services, or take business orders or to have

any social media account and many more..... a mobile

number is crucial in the present "day-to-day life” or better

to spell it as “minute to minute life” or business, where-

in wrong communication affects adversely either personal

or business levels.

Before recycling mobile numbers, TSPs need to enable

UMNDRs to update/correct their contact database by

providing an extra time gap before recycling. This extra

time gap can be named as "Cooling Period”. I.e.

UMNDRs will “clean” their contact lists whereas TSPs

will “cool” their recycled numbers. So, the process of

recycling of mobile numbers can be re-defined through

introducing an extra time gap namely cooling period as

diagrammatically shown in Fig.6.

Figure.6 Cooling period

(b) Redefined method of storing a mobile number in

UMNDR’s database The main cause of wrong communication is the "mobile

number data record" of UMNDR. As one mobile number

might not always belong to a particular customer/entity

due to recycling, the mobile number data record must-have

information on which date the mobile number entered into

their record, after due cross-checking (through OTP or any

other method) of that number before entering into their

database.

Hence, to store a mobile number, it is suggested to use at

least 4 fields i.e.,

First field: Country Code of the mobile number

Second field: length of mobile number (i.e number of

digits after country code)

Third field: Mobile number

Forth field: Date on which mobile number added**

** Mobile number can be added only after verification

through OTP/other standard methods.

Sample format:

Country

code

Number

of digits

in

mobile

number

Mobile

Number

The date on

which this

number added

(after due

verification

through

OTP/another

method)

DDMMYY

+91 10 9876543210 29022012

On every change of mobile number in the user database,

the above method is to be followed as a standard

practice.

(c) Common platform:

Each TSP needs to enable a large number of UMNDRs to

rectify their database during the cooling period as well

each UMNDR needs to approach multiple TSPs (within

Nation or Globally). This is a repeated activity and

handling huge data records is a difficult task if dealt

individually or mutually. Hence, there is a requirement of

a common platform between TSPs & UMNDRs to work

together.

This Common Platform is a software solution as detailed

in Fig. 7 and termed as “Cooling Exchange for Mobile

Numbers”.

3.Establishing Cooling Exchange for Mobile Numbers

(Common Platform) TSPs & UMNDRs should have a certain unique platform

to minimize the inconvenience caused due to the use of re-

cycled mobile numbers. Design & Concept of the

common platform- solution architecture for mobile

number’s Cooling Exchange is as follows:



Figure.7 Cooling exchange model

Step-1: On a pre-defined periodicity, TSPs need to keep

all the permanently discarded/disconnected phone numbers

(i.e. after Date-3) for "cooling" i.e. enabling all UMNDRs

to correct their database.

Step-2: During the cooling period, all the UMNDRs will

wash-up their data by appropriately flagging (Ref. 9.1(c))

the numbers for required action at their end and upkeep

their mobile number database.

Step-3: After certain pre-defined time period-3, i.e.

cooling period, TSP may start re-cycle these numbers, as

such by that time majority of UMNDRs might have been

cleaned their out-dated data.

The length of the cooling period, initially, maybe of a few

months later may reduce, as such all stakeholders

accustomed to regular wash-up their database through

cooling exchange.

At the start of the cooling exchange, all the TSPs can

upload their historical recycled mobile number data

(first time as “seed data”) for effective utilization of

cooling exchange; this will ensure active utilization of the

platform by UMNDRs.

4. Broad set-up of Cooling Exchange for Mobile

Numbers:

The volume of mobile numbers is so high/bulky (multi-

millions), stakeholders are spread across geographical

areas, each TSP cannot cater to every UMNDR,

simultaneous operations by multiple stakeholders, etc. are

to be addressed while designing the cooling exchange.

Isolation of data among various stake-holders, a neutral

entity is suitable as the administrator/owner of cooling

exchange i.e. who does not yield, non-stakeholder of this

echo-system, mainly unbiased, non-TSP & Non-UMNDR

is suggested choice.

To maintain peace in this AI & IOT era, all the operations

among key stakeholders are advised to be in the form of

on-line functioning, instant, automatic, and minimum

human interference along with all futuristic features.

Presence of multi-national operations, a small entity is also

having global operations, leading suppliers, providers &

users may be across countries, so a UMNDR may contain

data of various countries, hence, it is meaning full to have

a single cooling exchange across the globe.

Figure.8 Global Cooling Exchange

In another case, each nation has a single National cooling

exchange, or few countries have a common Combine

Cooling Exchanges, but all are required to form a network

of all National Cooling Exchanges by respecting the laws

of lands.

Figure.9 Network of National Cooling Exchanges



The basic features or functionality of cooling exchange

will be:

Pre-defined periodicity to the TSPs – for uploading

data

Instant/periodic check-up by any UMNDR – to clean-

up their data

UMNDRs able to protect their business interests &

data

Complete protection of customer privacy – follow

laws of the land

Not to store UMNDRs records at the cooling

exchange.

Data uploaded by TSPs will be permanently stored at

the cooling exchange.

(a) Features/Functions of Cooling Exchange system The cooling exchange will have registration provision for

the stakeholders of the mobile number echo system. TSPs

have the facility to upload their data into a cooling

exchange. Cooling exchange can communicate all

UMNDRs on every occasion when TSPs uploaded their

data. UMNDRs can run applications to clean their

database. Basing on high volumes of data and more

frequency requirements, UMNDRs have a certain

verification software application installed on their system

also.

All the sequences that arise due to mobile number

recycling will be programmed for running the verification

cycle between TSPs data & UMNDRs data using a cooling

exchange. After completion of each verification cycle at

the cooling exchange, pre-defined flags (flag 1, flag 2, etc.)

on certain mobile numbers of UMNDR will be made for

taking the necessary cleaning process at their end.

All required latest standards of software systems &

management are to be utilized for taking care of each

stakeholder's data and their privacy as per the laws of the

land.

(b) Verification lot/cycle

At a time the total number of mobile numbers from a

single UMNDR that is possible to check at the cooling

exchange. For example, if, UMNDRs have 1 million

mobile numbers, they can do it in multiple verification lots,

say, ten thousand numbers in a verification lot.

Verification at the cooling exchange of one lot can be

considered as one verification cycle. This will be a

metric/measurement for arriving necessary facilitation

fees.

(c) Description of various Flags

(i) Flag 1: Action suggested

I.e. This mobile number is reported by TSP at the cooling

exchange. But, TSP reported that this mobile number is

disconnected after this number added into UMNDR's

database. Hence, UMNDR has to ascertain to use this

mobile number against the customer/client as saved in their

database. UMNDR needs to do corrective action on all

such mobile numbers with flag-1.

(ii) Flag2: No Action suggested

I.e. This mobile number is reported by TSP at the cooling

exchange. But, no disconnection is reported by TSP after

the date of entry into the UMNSRs database. So no

particular action is suggested.

(iii) Flag3: Can’t suggest

I.e. no information reported by TSP on this mobile number

at the cooling exchange. So I can't say/suggest this

number.

Mentioned about major Flags as above, as well it is

possible to have few more such flags, and those can be

added as and when encountered.

(d) Pre-requisite

All TSPs are giving a gap of the cooling period

before recycling mobile numbers.

UMNDRs have to store the mobile number in their

database as per the revised method.

(e) Sample lot verification cycle protocol

i. TSPs and UMNDRs registered with a cooling

exchange for mobile numbers (common platform)

ii. TSP lodges its permanently disconnected mobile

numbers at a cooling exchange in a predetermined

standard data template.

iii. UMNDRs get prompt in a structured text about that

TSPs lodged a new lot.

iv. UMNDRs initiate the Verification cycle and

complete cross-check with the database of cooling

exchange and get "flags" on certain mobile numbers

of the UMNDRs database.

v. Basing on the cross-check result, those "flags" are

viz., "Action suggested", "No action suggested",

"Can't suggest" will be indicated to UMNDR.

vi. UMNDRs data will not be stored at the cooling

exchange.

vii. UMNDRs data will not be transfer to TSPs or any

other location.

After verification, UMNDR has certain flags on each of

their mobile numbers as follow:

Table 3: UMNDR Flags

Country

code

Number

of digits

in

mobile

number

Mobile

Number

The date on

which this

number added

(after due

verification

through

OTP/other

methods)

DDMMYY

Flag

+91 10 9876543210 29022012 1

+91 10 7874563211 09122014 2

+91 10 6876541232 25112013 3

+91 10 9670003218 31052015 1

Note: All the mobile numbers where Flag=1, needs

corrective action by UMNDR, as such these numbers have

been disconnected later date of addition of this mobile

number in their database. The nature of corrective action



can be decided by UMNDR at their end based on the

gravity of deal with that particular customer/client.

(f) Basic data Templates

Users of the cooling exchange are required to follow

certain common data-templates and few basic versions for

different purposes of cooling exchange operations are

given below:

Format -1: Data from the TSPs

Lot #

Tele-

Country

Code

No. of

digits in mobile

No.

Mobile No.

Free

“From”

Date

Free “To”

Date

Format-2: Data from UMNDRs

User

Code

Tele-Country

Code

No. of

digits in

mobile No.

Mobile

No.

Mobile

No.

added on date

date of

verification

Format-3: Report to UMNDRs

User Code

Tele-

Country

Code

No. of digits

in

mobile No.

Mobile No.

Mobile

No. added

on data

date of verification

Flag #

(g) Result

UMNDRs can do corrective actions based on the reported

Flags so that, their database records containing mobile

numbers information will be corrected, leading to:

Minimize wrong communication.

Protects the interests of UMNDRs

Present & previous customers of a mobile number

Besides TSPs can have "cleaned” mobile numbers

for further recycling.

(h) Evolving Standards

Standardization across various nations/TSPs is required on

certain items that are required to taken-up by International

standardization bodies (say, ITU) to have better-

synchronized operations in this echo system across the

globe. A few of the major items that are required to be

considered for standardization and proposed standards on

each such item are as follows:

Item-1 “Providing a permanently disconnected

mobile/phone number again as a new connection” is being

called with different names/notation as “Second-hand

number, Re-use of the number, re-allotting number, re-

cycling numbers, re-assigning numbers, etc”. This is to be

standardized across nations/TSPs.

Proposed standard name & abbreviation:

“Re-Cycling of Mobile number (RC MN)” Or

“Re-cycling of Phone Number” (RC PN)”

Item-2 The period of the time gap, i.e. the period between

permanently disconnected date and re-cycling dates that is

being followed by various TSPs is to be standardized and

this period is to be called with the standard name.

Proposed standard name, abbreviation & Period in

days:

“Cooling Period (CP), 90 days”

Item-3A common platform among various stake-holders

of the mobile number echo system that is proposed in this

paper/article. This common platform is to be called with a

standard name.


“Cooling Exchange for Mobile Numbers (CE MN)”

Item-4 Mobile number is being used by many entities

(business entities, on-line/off-line product suppliers/service

providers Government, Individuals, etc.) as a data record in

their database for their reference/communication purpose.

So there is a need to call all those entities with a common

name.


“User of Mobile Number as a Data Record (UMNDR)”

Item-5 “Number of cooling exchanges that a Nation is

required or all Nations are required to have a single cooling

exchange” is to be evolved through wide consultation by

the Global standardization bodies (Say ITU).

Proposed standards:

“Single Cooling exchange across all Nations” Or

“Network of National Cooling exchanges”

To protect customer privacy, in cooling exchange design,

the major norm is that “no mention of customer details” in

any form either from TSPs or UMNDRs. TSPs should

send their data only after “date3” (refer fig.6), in the

format-1. UMNDRs can use format-2 to clean their data at

cooling exchange and they will get the report (in format-3)

in return “Flag” against each mobile Number.

The summary of responsibilities that are evolved through

this deliberation is as follows:

Table 4: Stakeholders Responsibility

Stake-

holder Responsibility Details

Telecom

Service

Providers-

TSPs

Needs to

provide

permanently

disconnected

mobile numbers

Periodic activity basing on

their mobile number re-

cycling requirement.

Initial lots may provide their

historic data (as seed data) for

better minimizing the re-

cycling effect

This activity is normally

required whenever mobile

number becomes free and

TSP plans to put these mobile

numbers again for allotment

for another customer.

User

(UMNDRs

)

Can verify their

mobile number

data

Periodic activity (monthly or

fortnightly)

On every verification cycle,

they get suggested actions.

Follow standard practices for



effective utilization of the

solution

Cooling

exchange -

Solution

Provider

Enrolls Tele-

operators,

UMNDRs, and

other users to

provide them

access to the

solution

Manage the software solution

as per industry standards from

time to time. They may be

allowed to collect requisite

fees/charges basing on the

guidelines of respective

authorities.

Regulators

Needs to

provide

regulations/reco

mmendations

The issue for a smooth start as

well time to time for

operations

Standardiz

ation Body

Standards to be

evolved and

released.

Useful for synchronized

functioning across countries.

National authorities need to

implement the standards that

are recommended by Global

Standardization body/s or to

propose new standards from

time to time.

V. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

Mobile connection is to facilitate people and enhance the

comfort of living or ease of doing business/service of an

entity, but not to lead to difficulties. Through this study,

an attempt was made to address a significant gap in the

present telecom echo system. Through this paper, a

solution & model architecture evolved to overcome certain

adverse effects viz., loss happens to business entity or

difficulty happens to an individual because someone got a

recycled mobile number as their new connection or

someone lasts their profile to a stranger, that too due to not

having information exchange among the stakeholders of

mobile numbers.

Telecom bodies at National or International Level,

National authorities, Tele-service providers and academia

needs to initiate and involve for better out-come by

suitably evolving standard practices to have a robust

system eliminating the gaps found time to time.

In the recent back, a sample survey was conducted to have

fresh feedback and a separate survey analysis paper under

submission.

The application solution will be submitted in continuation

of this research work.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Initially, the concept & solution (fig-7) was developed with

a name “washing exchange for mobile numbers” during

the year 2016 and later re-named as “Cooling Exchange for

recycled mobile numbers”. In this regard, we convey our

thanks to Shri. O.S.Chkravarthy, a software professional

from India, who developed a pilot/prototype software

version based on this concept.

REFERENCES

[1] Mohamed Hamdy Eldefrawy, Muhammad Khurram Khan1,

Khaled Alghathbar, TaiHoon Kim, and Hassan Elkamchouchi,

“Mobile one-time passwords: two-factor authentication using

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Library, Security Comm. Networks 2012; 5:508–516, DOI:

10.1002/sec.340.

[2] Richard N. Clarke “Expanding mobile wireless capacity: The

challenges presented by technology and economics”, published in

Elsevier Ltd, Telecommunications Policy38 (2014), Science

Direct, 2013.

[3]Xavier Costa-Perez, Andreas Festag, Hans-Joerg Kolbe, Juergen

Quittek, Stefan Schmid, Martin Stiemerling, Joerg Swetina, Hans

van der Veen”Latest Trends in Telecommunication Standards”

ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review, Volume

43, Number 2, April 2013.

[4] Pieter BALLON “The Platformisation of the European Mobile

Industry, published in COMMUNICATIONS & STRATEGIES,

no. 75, 3rd quarter 2009.

[5]E. Ahmed et al., "Recent Advances and Challenges in Mobile Big

Data," in IEEE Communications Magazine, vol. 56, no. 2, Feb.

2018, DOI: 10.1109/MCOM.2018.1700294.

[6] Shri. Ashok Goyal about “Recycled numbers” a web article, Nov

2019.

[7] Times of India published “Second-hand phone numbers” News

article published in, August 2013.

[8] Linus Särud about “The danger of recycled mobile numbers”

published in Detectify Labs paper, May 2018.

[9]Mr.Farshad Family paper on “Raise of Multi-SIM Users”, 2012.

[10] Solomon T “Your Cell Phone Number is not your number”

published on an on-line paper, Dec 2018.

[11] David Lazarus “Service providers recycling cell phone numbers

a dirty little secret” published as an on-line business article, 2006.

[12] EU based telecom & networking service provider's news article

“What happens to your old mobile number – Synergy”, published

in about, April 2019.

[13] P. K. Paul, P. S. Aithalm “Information Assurance and IT

Management: The Key Issues, Solutions in Indian Scenario based

on International Trends” by, published in World Academics

Journal of Management, Vol.7, Issue.1, pp.12-17, October 2019.

E-ISSN: 2321-905X.

[14] Heather E. Hudson “FROM RURAL VILLAGE TO GLOBAL

VILLAGE - Telecommunications for Development in the

Information Age” book published by LAWRENCE ERLBAUM

ASSOCIATES, PUBLISHERS, 2006.

[15] Prachi Jain, Paridhi Jain, and Ponnurangam Kumaraguru, “Call

me maybe: Understanding nature and risks of sharing mobile

numbers on online social networks” Published in COSN:

Proceedings of the First ACM Conference on Online Social

Networks, pp. 101-106, October 2013.

AUTHORS PROFILE

K.S.SRINIVAS1, M.Sc. (Physics),

M.B.A (Marketing), Having 25+ years

of experience in the telecom sector and

presently developing various

innovative solutions.

Paper Publication:

Published paper in the International

Journal of Research and Analytical Review (IJRAR) on “A

COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON BSNL REVIVAL

CASE STUDY OF VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT

SCHEME (VRS) -2019.” Volume 7 | Issue 1 | March 2020.



M.SATYA PRASAD2 Assistant

General Manager (Entrepreneur

Business) in BSNL Visakhapatnam.

After Graduation in Electronics,

completed a Bachelors’ degree in

Education and also a master of

Business Administration with a

specialization in Marketing & HRM.

Presently doing a Doctorate in Management at Andhra

University, Visakhapatnam. Had vast experience in the

field of Telecommunications worked in various wings like

IP Switching, Transmission, Mobile Communication, Data

Communication, Marketing, and Entrepreneur Business.

Installation and maintenance of all types of Transmission

systems like PCM, Optical Fiber Cable construction,

Installation & testing of all types of PDH, SDH, DWDM,

and FTTH equipment belongs to various vendors

manufactured during the last 25 years. Also had work

experience in the Erection of all types of Mobile

Communication towers (GBT, RTT, and Pole), equipment

installation, and testing including RF Engineering,

Hardware testing, conducting of Drive test to optimize the

Mobile Network.

Recently during 2019 initiated the project of Triple play

service over Fiber (Telephone+ High-speed Internet +

Cable TV) in Visakhapatnam first time in India in

association with MSO Cable operator.

Academic Experience:

Initiated first time in India Skill development MOU's with

Universities and Engineering Colleges and signed a good

number of MOU's.

1) Nearly 7000 students were done interim ship/ project

work in the ECE Engineering stream from 2004 to 2019

under his guidance in Optical Fiber Communications,

Mobile communications, and in Wireless Technologies

including the EETP program sponsored by AICTE.

2) Nearly 230 students were done apprenticeship under his

guidance in the Diploma ECE branch in various sections

for a period of 6 months up to the year 2018.

3) Nearly 100 students were done project work in

Management (HRM&MKTG) for 4/6 weeks period in the

year 2018.

4) Experience as a faculty for the Employability

Enhancement Training Programme (EETP) sponsored for

AICTE, SILVER, GOLD, and PLATINUM and imparting

soft and communication skills for 600 students between the

years 2013 to 2015.

Paper Publication:

1) Published paper in the International Journal of Socio

Technology & Knowledge Development on “Customers’

Satisfaction towards Mobile Prepaid Services: A Study of

BSNL in Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh”

Volume 1| Issue 1| January – March 2018.

2) Published paper in the International Journal of Research

and Analytical Review (IJRAR) on “A

COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON BSNL REVIVAL

CASE STUDY OF VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT

SCHEME (VRS) -2019.” Volume 7 | Issue 1 | March 2020.

3) Published paper in the “International Journal of

Scientific Research in Network Security and

Communication”, on "BIRD'S EYE VIEW ON MOBILE

NUMBER PORTABILITY”. Volume 8|issue2| April 2020

4) Published paper in the “International Journal of

Scientific Development and Research (IJSDR) on

“Outlook on Public Sector Telecom Provider

(BSNL&MTNL) in India-Continues to Bleed” Volume 5 |

Issue 6 | June 2020.

5)Published paper in the "International Journal of

Scientific Research in Network Security and

Communication", on "DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION

OF TRIPLE PLAY SERVICE ON OPTICAL FIBER

CABLE.Vol.8, Issue.3, June 2020".

Dr. Ram Narayana K3 M.Sc M.Phil

Ph.D., Lecturer, Sri ASNM

Government College (A), Palakol-

534260, AP, India.

Documents

Mobile Numbers Echo System & Cooling Exchange Solution