The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has fixed the charges for Mobile Number Portability (MNP) for all telecom circles in the country. MNP (and its commencement)is a much awaited service and has been a hot topic among mobile users who are quite tech savvy.
However, if you are not clued-in yet, then MNP is something that you should know about because once it is effective, mobile users across the spectrum stand to benefit.
Have you not always thought how great it would be if you could keep your current mobile number while using the network of another Access Provider (AP)? However, you have had to stick to your old mobile number (of your current AP) because you have got used to it or because your business associates and friends would find it very difficult to reach you if you bought a new connection from another AP even though its network (and tariff structure) is much better than your current AP.
Well, to put it simply, MNP will allow you that most cherished freedom: you can keep your old number while choosing a different AP for better services.
The best part is the cost of changing your Network (called the “porting charge“) has been fixed by TRAI at a maximum of Rs. 19/switch. In other words, Operators/ APs are free to fix their own porting charge as long as it does not exceed Rs. 19. The TRAI has also indicated that MNP would be available in all Metros and Category A telecom circles from 31 December onwards. MNP will be available in all other telecom circles by 20 March 2010.
See the TRAI order on MNP.
The introduction of MNP will help in “increasing competition between the service providers and act as a catalyst for the service providers to improve their quality of service”, the TRAI said on its website.
The introduction of the MNP service would trigger a fresh tariff war in the fastest growing wireless telephony market in the world and would consequently further lower call charges. It would be pertinent at this point to note that call rates in India are already among the lowest in the world.
If you found this article of some interest then please leave your valuable comments.
Cheers!
Rajiv
good information. Do we have this kind of facility in USA too?
ReplyDeleteThanx for taking an interest in my blog, Piyali. Now, to answer your question: MNP is available in the USA too, but out there it is called Local Number Portability (For fixed lines) and Full Mobile Number Portability for mobile phones. Incidentally, Iceland, Canada, and the United States are the only three countries in the world that offer full number portability transfers between both fixed lines and mobile phone lines because mobile and fixed line numbers are mixed in the same area codes, and billing wise are identical for the calling party, the mobile user usually pays for incoming calls.
ReplyDelete