Telecom News -- National

TRAI issues Mobile Number Portability Regulations

New Delhi: - The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today issued the “Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Regulations, 2009”. Mobile Number Portability (MNP) allows the subscribers to retain their existing mobile telephone number when they move from one Access Provider to another irrespective of the mobile technology or from one cellular mobile technology to another of the same Access Provider, in a licensed service area. The facility of retention of existing mobile telephone number despite moving to a new telecom service provider helps the subscriber maintain contacts with his friends/clientele. Introduction of MNP also helps in increasing competition between the service providers and acts as a catalyst for the service providers to improve their quality of service.

Through these regulations, the Authority is laying down the basic business process framework for implementation of MNP in the country. TRAI placed the draft regulations on the subject on its website on 27th June 2009 for consultation with the stakeholders. Comments of stakeholders on the draft regulations were solicited by 14th July 2009. Written comments of stakeholders were also posted on TRAI’s website. Open House Discussions were also held with stakeholders in Delhi on 27th July 2009 and the stakeholders were requested to send further comments, if any, by 31st July, 2009. After careful analysis of the views of the stakeholders expressed both in their written comments and in the Open House, the Authority has framed the present regulations.

These regulations seek to provide a framework governing all relevant aspects of MNP by –

• laying down clear eligibility conditions for porting of mobile telephone numbers;
  
  
• defining rights and obligations of various stake holders, i.e., the Donor Operator, the Recipient Operator, the MNP Service provider;
  
  
• laying down the procedure to be followed by each player in the chain in processing number porting request;
  
  
• specifying clear time limits for completion of various steps by each player in the chain i.e. the Donor Operator, Recipient Operator and the MNP service provider. ; and
  
  
• envisaging least disruption of service to the consumer

As decided by Government, MNP shall be implemented wef. 31st December 2009 in Metros & category ‘A’ service areas and by 20th March 2010 in rest of the country.

Click here for salient features of the MNP under these regulations

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