Universal Telephone Numbering Plan
With ever-increasing glocalisation, and the ability to be a digital nomad working from any part of the world, one change in telecommunications can make a major difference in the growth and development of economies and the betterment of life for everyone.
What we need is a single mobile number which can be used every where in the world.
Preferably a 14-digit number, which you can select a custom number and upgrade for free. You can travel throughout the world with a single number.
Using either a physical SIM (Like Apple SIM) or a digital SIM (Yes, I still believe this will happen), you will instantly be able to shift to any local carrier/service provider, enabling you to make or receive calls at local rates. (Would prefer if all incoming calls are free, everywhere.) Thus eradicating the expensive roaming charges, having to carry/use multiple SIM’s, or only operating on a carrier which has tied up with your carrier back home.
This would be possible if there is a single body to regulate the registration and use of numbers. Preferably the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN), or a brand new intergovernmental public-private partnership agency which is regulated by ITU, or UN.
You could register on this agency’s website, type in your present number, upload details to verify you are using the number and yourself. Select a new number and apply for it. Which gets rerouted to your carrier and gets upgraded for free. Once done, you could travel to any part of the world, select any carrier and transfer to their network, with either a billing or pay-as-you go option.
You should be able to create an account in any of the carrier, and shift your number to their network for a period of time of your choosing. For example if you are going from London to Tokyo, you can select the dates in advance, and have your number work from the moment you land in Tokyo.
This is possible with the existence of multiple ITU recommendations especially E.164 where the maximum length of 15 digits can be used.
This article will be updated to build on the idea. Any suggestions are always welcome.
