Online Directory of Landline Phone Subscribers by September 15

New Delhi: Telecom operators are in the process of publishing an online directory of their landline subscribers by September 15.

"Reliance Communications has already complied with a DoT order in this regard and informed the same to the DoT," a Reliance Communications official told PTI.

Telecom major Airtel has started circulating an SMS to its subscribers for listing their name in directory giving them a choice to opt out. A subscriber opting to be left out of the directory has to send an SMS costing Rs 3 to Airtel.

According to industry sources, the DoT order to publish online directory was issued in March 2013 but it is being complied now as there were privacy issues that needed to be addressed.

Connect Broadband, a group company of Videocon which operates in Punjab, has published names and addresses of landline customers who agreed to be in the directory listing.

"We are taking permission of customers if they want to be in. There are apprehensions that telemarketers may start pestering them or even lot of nuisance can be created by mischievous elements. We don't want customers face such issues. We expect to complete process by September 15," a Connect Broadband official said.

Progress by state-run telecom firm and market leader in landline segment BSNL could not be ascertained. An MTNL official said that the company is working on the process.

There are about 2.8 crore landline subscribers in the country. BSNL and MTNL jointly account for about 80 per cent market share. Airtel has about 12 per cent, Tata Teleservices 5.6 per cent and RCom has 4.33 per cent market share.

Vodafone, Videocon and MTS jointly account for an around 1 per cent market share.

Tata Teleservices, Vodafone and MTS did not reply to queries in this regard.