New guidelines for Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

TRAI, Telecom regulatory authority of India, has come out with a new set of guidelines to make it easier for consumer to port. A key directive is that operators should not reject mobile number portability (MNP) request if the amount due from the customer is Rs10 or less (rounded off to the nearest rupee). The amount can be adjusted in the customer's next bill.

So far, companies have reportedly been rejecting porting requests over outstanding dues of as little as 13 paise. Another reason for porting requests being denied is 'contractual obligation', particularly in the case of premium or vanity numbers. Now, TRAI has ruled that ''since numbering is allocated free of charge by the licensor, service providers are not justified in putting any condition for retaining premium numbers under the garb of contractual obligation.''

Contractual obligation can be ground of rejection only if, a post-paid connection has come bundled with the handset with an exit clause and the subscriber has not complied with the clause or if it is a corporate connection with an exit clause and the subscriber does not comply with it.

"Our figures reveal that about 20-25 per cent of the requests are not being ported. The reasons given are contractual obligations, outstanding dues, and then the number not being properly recorded, etc. We have given a direction yesterday and that will ease the matter quite a lot," TRAI chairman J S Sarma told newspersons in New Delhi on Wednesday. TRAI has given the operators 10 days to report compliance to the authority's directive.

According to TRAI data released in March, the number of unsatisfied mobile phone users crossed 38 lakh by the end of February, with Gujarat reporting the highest number of customers willing to change their service provider.The figures, submitted to TRAI by the telecom companies, reveal that the number of cellphone users who have chosen to avail mobile number portability has hit the 1 crore mark in the four-and-a half months since the service was launched.

They show that Vodafone Essar has been the biggest gainer under this facility. As on 24 May, Vodafone recorded a net gain of 591,600 new customers.

TRAI directs mobile operators to adhere to MNP regulations

TRAI has directed to all Cellular mobile service providers (CMSPs) and UAS licensees to adhere to sub regulation 1 of regulation 15 of Telecommunication mobile number portability regulations,2009. As per the said regulation, all the recipient mobile operators are supposed to pay to mobile number portability service providers (MNPSP) the per port transaction charges at the rate specified by the authority from time to time within 15 days of the receipt of the bill from MNPSP.

It has been found that many of the operators have refused to pay the per port transaction charges to intermediary body MNPSP. TRAI views it as the violation of the said clause of Telecommunication mobile number portability regulation 2009. Thus, through a written communication TRAI has advised all mobile service providers to adhere to the regulation and transfer the money to MNP intermediary body- MNPSP. TRAI had asked all telecos to send compliance reports in this regards by 5th May,2011. currently per port MNP charges are Rs.19 which has been computed by dividing the total cost to the MNPSPs by estimated number of porting subscribers over a period of 5 years.

MNP Helplines No.s of all Telecom Operators

Mobile Number Portability is launched in all Indian states from yesterday (20-01-2011) and telecom operators are trying to woo as many customers to make them move to their services by promising various goodies or other types of benefits in terms of services, better coverage, free talk-time, etc.

Many telecom operators has already rolled a dedicated MNP helpline to help customers to opt-in to their services using Mobile Number Portability.

Here is the list of MNP helpline numbers of various Indian telecos that would help you for easy migration from one operator to another.

• TATA Docomo MNP Helpline: 1800-266-0000 (Toll-free)
• TATA Indicom Helpline: 1800-266-3366 (Toll-free)
• Idea MNP Helpline: 1800-270-0000 (Toll-free)
• Vodafone MNP Helpline: 1800-1234567 (Toll-free)
• Aircel MNP Helpline: 97007 97007 (Tolled)
  
• AirTel MNP Helpline: 1800-103-1111 (Toll-free)
• BSNL MNP Helpline: 1800-180-1503 (Toll-free)

How to Port CDMA Number to GSM Operator with Mobile Number Portability

A new revolution has kicked-in, in the Indian mobile industry called Mobile Number Portability (MNP) using which a customer can easily retain his/her mobile number even while moving from one operator to another.

There are still lots of confusion in the minds of mobile users whether or not they can move their CDMA numbers (Reliance CDMA, TATA Indicom or MTS) to a non-CDMA (GSM) operator. Well, the answer is YES! A CDMA customer can migrate or port a CDMA number to GSM operator or vice-versa by following the same procedures mentioned on our previous post.

Here’s a summary of what you need to do for moving from CDMA to GSM with same number:

• SMS: Port your mobile number to 1900
• Get your unique porting code (UPC) via SMS and submit it to the new operator (GSM/CDMA) along with prescribed fees of Rs. 19 and other documents & photo
• Wait for 5-7 days before your CDMA number gets ported to new GSM operator.
  

BSNL unveils Pan India offers for Mobile Number Portability

In a bid to encash the Mobile Number Portability (MNP), India’s National Telecom back bone and pan India 3G mobile service operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) announce the launch of a groundbreaking offer,which will give Free Connection, Free GPRS and lots more for all Port-in customers who Switch to BSNL from any other service providers.

India’s National Telecom back bone and pan India 3G mobile service operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is all set to launch Nation Wide Mobile Number Portability.

The PSU today unveils its Pan-India MNP offer, which will give Free Connection, Free Mobile Internet and lots more for all Port-in customers who Switch to BSNL from any other service providers across all the telecom circles except Haryana.

According to the BSNL offer the MNP Port-in charges of Rs. 19 shall be waived off and Free SIM card (32K) will be provided for all “Port In” subscribers who Switch to BSNL.

Apart from the Free In-Porting, For prepaid subscribers, The STV/First Recharge Coupon (FRC) chosen by the customer to use the BSNL Mobile Services shall be FREE of cost if Port-in is through BSNL CSC. At the time of activation of all Port-in customers, will also get Additional FREE Talk Time of Rs. 100 in addition to the normal FREE talk value applicable with FRC. All Port-in customers will be offered GPRS Data Access up to 5 GB for one month free of charge.

While for Postpaid Subscribers, The Activation Charges will be waived off and 50% rebate in the Fixed Monthly Rental/Charges (FMC) will be offered of first month after port in to BSNL.
The Freebies for Call/SMS/Data will be will remain same as Tariff Plan selected by Port In subscriber.

Procedure for MNP Port-in request at BSNL CSCs:

1. Port-in customer will take UPC by sending SMS PORT followed by 10 Digit Mobile Number to 1900.

2. Port-in customer will submit CAF (application form) and MNP form with UPC at CSC.

3. Customer should be asked for an alternative number and desired FRC (2G/3G etc.) and record on BSNL/Porting CAF for future use.

4. Customer will be given a virgin SIM. On this virgin SIM, his number will be created afterwards. It is to be informed to the customer that after 72-96 hours or on getting SMS he/she may insert the SIM in the mobile and dial ‘123’ to activate BSNL services.

5. CCN person will complete the required entries in Fx GUI, mention type of FRC in the prescribed field and fire order for creation of new port-in number using MSISDN, IMSI, UPC etc.

6. SIM will be created after minimum 72 hours (assuming it is approved by the port-out operator) and maximum 96 hours.

8. Before activation of the BSNL services, there will be an interruption/ transit time of around 2 hours i.e. subscriber will not be getting services of any operator.

Mobile Number Portability in action

The much awaited Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is now available all over India w.e.f 20-01-2011 and any customer is now allowed to kick off his/her present network and can easily shift to any other mobile operator which provides a better service. It is a boon to those customers who have suffered a lot due to their operators' worst service and can't move to other network afraid of losing their number.

Number Portability allows consumers and businesses to keep their existing telephone numbers when they switch operators. It, literally, means that numbers are portable from operator to operator - whether that operator is a mobile, wireline, or VoIP service provider. Number Portability benefits everyone.

It gives subscribers the freedom to choose operators based on criteria like services, price, and customer service. Their freedom of movement is not influenced by the inconveniences and costs that come with changing numbers.

It also makes it easier for operators to compete for customers, precisely because it eliminates a major barrier to churn - that is, reluctance to change numbers. Although this increased risk of churn is a concern among some operators, number portability has been a huge success around the world, because it helps to level the playing field, giving all operators more opportunities to grow their subscriber bases and revenues.