TRAI Guidelines To Telecom Operators Over Mobile Number Portability

I think this is the first time in the world that any one is provided with such a unique feature of keeping the same old number but changing the operator. That is, if you own a mobile number which operates under AT&T plans, and you wish to change to some other subscriber like Vodafone, you can do so. The number stays the same, only the Operator(AT&T in this case) changes. India is the first country which is rolling out this kind of a plan to keep the telecom operators on their heels. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) issued specific guidelines to mobile operators to start commencing the roll out plan.

Source: Santosh Dawara

Mobile Number Portability would be effective from Dec 31^st, 2009 is Metro cities and ‘A” grade service centers and the similar approach would be enticed in the other areas from March 20th, 2010. There is a small catch here that if the mobile operator’s licensed service area regulations do not accept it, this would not prove to be effective. My view on this point is: If you are staying in a small town or village where there are not many mobile operators to choose from, you might not get the facility to change your operator. I will get back on this after an update. I would specify the key points here:

• Dont jump on hearing this and take a new connection(Well, you can take it, I was kidding). You need to have the number with you for the past 90 days(after activation) in order to make use of this facility. That is, your SIM card had to be in activated state for the 90 days so that you can apply to enable this feature on your number.
• The subscriber has to communicate with the new operator and apply for number portability. If there are any fees to be paid for the service, it had to be paid.
• All the previous mobile bills from the old subscriber had to be paid in full and complete sense. You need to take a NO DUE certificate from the previous operator and include it with the application(see above point) that you submit to the new operator. If you are found to be in due with the previous operator, your connection might be terminated with new and as well as old operators.
• If, by any abrupt reasons, you wish to cancel the number portability process, you need to do so within 24 hours of applying for the said feature. The fee paid to the previous operator would not be returned, in any case.
• The new operator should be effective in a period of maximum 4 days. In Jammu&Kashmir, Assam, Eastern states of India, there is a time line of 12 days.

I suppose this kind of feature would definitely make telecom operators more competitive and slash their prizes soon and in a frenzy manner. And, you can try different networks for every 3 months

You can look at the press release from TRAI on MNP.