The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday directed Vodafone to stop using ‘111’ for offering customer care services, as it violates the national numbering plan, and submit a compliance report by March 10.

In a direction to Vodafone, TRAI said that the Department of Telecom had issued the national numbering plan 2003, wherein the number 111 to 115 have not been allocated for any type of services and have been kept as ‘spare’

However, the authority said it observed from the advertisement on the website of Vodafone that customers were being urged to call ‘111’ to get Internet settings on their handset for pre-paid data offers, post-paid 3G data packs, self help for data services, Blackberry Internet offers and to find out the balance. “Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred upon it... the authority hereby directs Vodafone India to discontinue use of level ‘111’ and submit compliance report latest by March 10,” TRAI said.