Now change your telecom operator, Not your mobile number; MNP service launched
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, November 25, 2010
Making first call from a ported number
Minister of Communication Kapil Sibal on Thursday launched Mobile Number Portability (MNP), service in a function at Rohtak in Haryana. He announced that Mobile Number Portability service will be launched for rest of the country on January 20, 2011.
In order to avail this facility a customer will just need to go SMS option of his hand set and type 'PORT' and after a space type his 10 digit mobile number and send it to 1900.
The customer will then receive an UPC code (Universal Portability Code) through SMS. After that customers can fill a customer activation form, where he or she will have to mention this UPC code and submit the same at an outlet of a new telecom operators whose services the customer is planning to take.
TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has recommended a maximum of Rs. 19 to be charged for this purpose. However, the customer will have to clear all his dues and bills before his or her application can be processed.
He or she will have to furnish all the documents such as proof of identity and residence proof to the new Telecom operator.
Change your company, not number
After that the application will be processed in maximum seven days and on the seventh day his or her mobile will be off the network for only two hours and during this period services from the new operator of his or her choice will be activated on the same old number.
However, there are two issues with this Mobile Number Portability. First, the number to ported must be three months old and after availing the MNP service once the customer will not be allowed to make another Number Portability request for the next three months.
Second, this service will not be applicable on inter circles movements. For example if a customer moves to a new roaming area, from Delhi to Mumbai or Bangalore then he or she can not retain the same number. He or she will have to get a new number from an operator of his or her choice.
Mr. Sibal said that MNP will provide more choice to consumers and will create healthy competition among the mobile service providers. MNP service will be applied on both CDMA and GSM phones.
Minister of State for Communication Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda were also present on the occasion.
