After a long wait, the Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows a mobile subscriber to change his service provider without changing his number, is all set to come in force all over India from January 20.
According to a notification issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the MNP would come into force all over the country from January 20.
'The authority in exercise of powers conferred by clause(b) of sub regulation(2) of regulation (1) of the Telecommunications Mobile Number Portability Regulations 2009 (08 of 2009) and for ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of the licence and for protecting the interests of the consumers of the telecom sector hereby directs that regulations 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the Telecommunications Mobile Number Portability Regulations 2009 (8 of 2009) shall come into force in all telecom service areas in the country from January 20, 2011,' the notification by TRAI said.
The MNP has already come into force in Haryana on November 25.
The facility allows consumers to retain their mobile numbers while switching operators. Industry experts say that MNP gives rise to genuine competition, leading to an improvement in the quality of services by the service providers.
Telecom consulting firm Analysys Mason's data suggests a reasonably high subscriber churn after the launch of MNP of as much as 17 per cent in the prepaid and 19 per cent in the postpaid segment.
In the high average revenue per user segment, this level rises to 20 per cent, climbing to 22 per cent in the enterprise market and 18 per cent in the business category.
Market Watch
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Mobile number portability to come in force from Jan 20: TRAI
7:22 PM
Sebin Santhosh
