The Hindu Business Line : Mobile number portability may be delayed further

The barriers
Huge investment required (pegged at Rs 1,000 crore) to implement the system.
Issues such as interoperability and creating a central database of phone numbers.
DoT yet to change licence norms to accommodate MNP.

New Delhi , Sept. 19

Dissatisfied mobile users wanting to change their mobile operator without having to lose their phone number will have to wait a few more years.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India may push back the implementation of mobile number portability (MNP) by 1-2 years due to technical and commercial issues raised by the operators.

TRAI had earlier set a deadline of April 1, 2007 for all operators to introduce the system, which would enable mobile users to retain their phone numbers even as they change the operator.

Opposition

The move to introduce the MNP has, however, been opposed by the cellular operators on account of the huge investment required (pegged at Rs 1,000 crore) to implement the system. Operators have also raised technical issues such as interoperability and creating a central database of phone numbers, which may hinder proper implementation of the system.

Cellular operators have said that instead of spending the resources in implementing the MNP, it would be better to focus on rolling out mobile infrastructure in rural areas.

Extension

TRAI officials indicated that the concerns expressed by the cellular operators may be given weightage and the deadline could be extended.

TRAI had issued its recommendations in March and asked the Department of Telecom to change the licence norms to accommodate MNP.

DoT has also not taken a view on implementing the system yet. Consumer groups, on the other hand, have been pushing for MNP and said that cellular operators are worried about the huge churn that might happen in case the system is implemented.

A recent survey conducted by TRAI showed that consumers were unhappy with the quality of services offered by the mobile operators at present.

Another survey conducted by a private research firm had indicated that having to change mobile phone number was the single most reason that users were wary of changing the operator. Globally, too, MNP has been introduced after much resistance from operators.

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