JOIN USNumber portability dials in, finally
Mobile phone users will now have the choice to dump their cellular operator while retaining their old mobile phone number with the new service provider they opt for. The customer will be charged a maximum Rs 19 for the switch-over.
Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal rolled out the MNP service from Rohtak in Haryana on Thursday, triggering an unprecedented curiosity among mobile phone users.
Mobile service providers were left dealing with scores of queries on the MNP from customers immediately after the launch. On their part, the eight network operators in Haryana have launched an aggressive drive to win over customers from other companies.
Wooing customers
Bharti Airtel, with one of the largest customer base, has set up 1,000 touch points in the state to woo customers, Shashi Arora, CEO of Bharti Airtel, Upper North said on Thursday. Idea cellular has also launched a pilot run of the MNP and is computing data of customers who have expressed willingness to switch over, an associate operator told Deccan Herald in the evening.
It is estimated that close to 10 per cent of the current mobile phone subscribers could switch to another operator in the first year itself.
For now, the MNP option can be availed in Haryana only. The MNP will be available across India from January 20 next. A total of 700 million Indians use cell phones. Both pre-paid and post-paid consumers can use MNP.
Hop-on, hop-off your mobile operator
India on Thursday ushered in Mobile Number Portability that will allow cellphone users to switch operators without changing numbers, with Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal launching the service in Haryana. The rest of India would get to use MNP from January 20, next year.
HOW TO SWITCH:
* Send an SMS from your mobile to 1900: PORT
* You get your 8-digit Unique Porting Code (UPC)
* Approach the new carrier with UPC
SWITCH-OVER TAKES:
* Seven days, as per DoT
* 15 days for J & K, North-East, Assam
MINIMUM STAY PERIOD:
* Porting fee up to Rs 19
* No other switch for 90 days
* UPC valid for 16 days