The first online auction for VIP numbers will be launched on Monday

The first online auction for VIP (diamond and gold) numbers will be launched on Monday and the money raised will go to charity, Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) said.

TRA will oversee implementation of the number allocation process by the two telecom operators Omantel and Ooredoo.

"Specific procedures to prevent potential manipulation and payment shall be within three days," Mohammed Al Kindi, Executive Manager of Regulatory and Compliance Unit, TRA said.

Eng. Babker Othman, Manager of Technical Standards and Numbering Department at Regulatory and Compliance Unit, said: “Allocating special numbers through auctioning ensures that special numbers reach the largest possible number of interested users. Telecom services users value the transparency in offering the special numbers by auction and donating the money from number auctions to charity.”

The bidding will be conducted through the websites of the two telecom operators Omantel and Ooredoo and those interested in registering for the auction to follow the updates by these companies on the details of the first online auction for special numbers in the Sultanate.

"TRA continues through this auction to spread and instill transparency in allocating special numbers for all beneficiaries. The other objective is to limit the illegal trade in special numbers, noting that revenues from such bidding will go to charitable organizations in the Sultanate in accordance with the Telecommunications Regulatory Act." Eng.Mohammed Al Kindi added.

To respond to some social media inquiries on diamond and golden numbers bidding process, Eng. Babker said: "the diamond and golden numbers are the most popular among telecom services users and silver numbers are not included in the auction and have a fixed price of RO50."

Al Kindi explained that TRA has recently issued a regulation organizing the allocation of telecommunications numbers pursuant to Decision (No 1/2018) that was published in the Gazette. As per this decision allocation of diamond and gold numbers will be by auction in accordance with the procedures set forth in the decision, this would allow greater transparency in the allocation of telecommunications numbers to beneficiaries.

He added that the regulation organising the allocation of telecommunications numbers defined five types of diamond numbers: numbers containing same digit repeated consecutive at least five times; numbers containing same 2 digit combination repeated 4 times; numbers containing same digit consecutive 4 times at end between 2 same digits; numbers containing same digit consecutive 4 times at end or next to end and a digit repeated consecutive 2 times; and numbers containing same 2 digit combination repeated consecutive 3 times.

Gold numbers are of seven types: numbers containing same digit consecutive at least 5 times at end or next to end and a different digit separates the 1st and 2nd or 3rd and 4th repetition; numbers containing same digit consecutive 4 times at end or next to end; numbers containing same digit consecutive 4 times between 2 same digits after the 1st digit; numbers containing 2 digits each repeated 3 consecutive times and the repetition is separated by another different digit; numbers containing first 4 and last 4 digits are the same; numbers containing same 2 digit combination repeated 3 times at the end of number or a combination of 2 digits repeated twice and the repetition is separated by another combination; and numbers containing ascending order of at least six consecutive digits.