“The MNP will be launched on No
vember 1, starting with Haryana.The service is expected to be extended to the rest of the country in phases”, he told reporters here.
The implementation of the project has already been delayed thrice as the required infrastructure had not been installed by the telecom companies, mainly the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited.
As per the guidelines issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), a mobile subscriber is eligible to make a request for “porting” (changing) his mobile number only after 90 days from the date of activation of his present mobile connection.
Customers who wish to change the service provider have to give a written undertaking to their existing service provider that he is switching to a new operator. Within five days, there should be a mandatory subscriber identity verification.
It would be forwarded within two days to the MNP service provider, who in turn allows the change of the service provider. The rules also say that the operators must inform the customer over phone about the exact date and timing of the porting. Post-paid customers have to clear all outstanding payments before they can change their operator. The regulator has also clarified that the new operator is not bound to repay any deposits made by the customer to his original service provider.
Price war
The TRAI had fixed a ceiling of Rs 19 on the charge that an operator can levy from a subscriber who is porting his number. Once the MNP is launched, analysts say, mobile service providing companies may indulge in another price war to retain their customer base.
Easy plan
* Mobile Number Portability or MNP allows subscribers to retain their number even after changing service operator.
* It is set to kick-off from Haryana on Nov 1 and will be extended to the rest of the country in phases.
* Under TRAI guidelines, mobile subscribers can opt for a change of mobile number only after 90 days of present mobile connection.
* Change of service provider will take a minimum of 10 days.
* Mobile operators can charge a maximum of Rs 19 from subscribers who change their number.
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