India, Aug. 10 -- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed telecom service providers (TSPs) to begin the phased allocation of 1601-series numbers for transactional and service calls made by entities outside the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector and government.

The first phase will cover utilities and courier and logistics companies. TSPs have been given 90 days from the date of the direction to complete the onboarding and migration of eligible entities.

The 1601-series has been allotted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for service and transactional calls from sectors other than BFSI and government. TRAI said the separate numbering series is intended to prevent service and transacti...