Mobile number portability by June 2009

Mobile number portability is one feature which is being expected by the Indian mobile users for years. Mobile number portability allows the subscriber to switch between operators without changing the mobile number. Telecom regulator authority of India (TRAI) has been trying to push this feature for a long period, the complexity and the reluctance of the mobile operators, worrying possible loss of customer base, delays the implementation.

Today TRAI has recommended Department of Telecommunication(DoT) to come up with the road map for MNP (mobile number portability) for implementation in the country by June 2009. At first phase, the feature will be expected to available in four metros by November 2007. So according to this estimation, by November 2007, subscribers in the metros can retain the number if they are switching between the operator in the city limit.

The intial plan is to setup a Mobile number portability clearing house (MCHA), whose role is to provide end-to-end solution like managing call delivery and billing between two operators. MCHA will be selected through a competitive bidding process.

TRAI also recommended that the break period for porting the number between the operators should not be more than two hours and the prepaid subscribers has to exhaust the available balance while transfer as credit transfer facility is not practically possible.