Telecom News -- National

TRAI asks for industry views on number portability

New Delhi 22nd July 2009:- TRAI today issued a Consultation Paper on “Determination of Port Transaction charge, Dipping Charge and Porting Charge for Mobile Number Portability”

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) allows subscribers to retain their existing mobile telephone number when they switch from one service provider to another or from one technology to another of the same service provider. Apart from giving the subscribers a real option to change their service provider / technology without changing their mobile number, the introduction of MNP also helps in increasing the competition between the service providers. It acts as a catalyst for service providers to improve their quality of service, introduce new & innovative products & services and improve the mobile network coverage.

Based on the recommendations of the Authority on MNP, dated 8th March 2006, the Department of Telecommunications issued guidelines for MNP implementation in the country on 1st Aug 2008. Subsequently, the DOT issued licenses to two companies each serving a separate zone in the country.

As per the MNP service licence, the following types of charges are applicable in case of Mobile Number Portability:-

(a) ‘Per Port Transaction charge’: means the charge payable by the Recipient Operator (the operator, where the subscriber is willing to port his number) to the Mobile Number Portability Service Provider for processing each porting request of a mobile subscriber number.

(b) ‘Porting charge’ means the charge payable by the subscriber for porting his number to the recipient operator

(c) ‘Dipping Charge’ means the charge payable by the service provider who uses the query response system of the MNP service provider for obtaining location routing number (LRN) for correct routing of the called number.

As per the MNP license, these charges shall be governed by the Telecom Tariff Order (TTO)/determination by TRAI. In this reference this consultation paper has been prepared to seek inputs on the issues involved from the stakeholders in determining these charges.

In the consultation paper various issues such as the role and functions of MNP operator, the network elements involved in the MNP process, estimation of subscriber base, MNP related cost details and estimated number of porting subscribers submitted by MNP service providers, information about implementation of MNP in different countries along with the porting charge/fee charged there, have been discussed.

TRAI solicits comments from the stakeholders on this consultation paper.

The Open House Discussion on this consultation paper is scheduled to take place at Hyderabad on 11th August 2009.

-END-