TRAI for Rs 200 one-time fee for number portability

New Delhi, Mar 8 (UNI) In a move that would allow customers to switch operators while retaining the old number, the telecom regulator, TRAI today recommended that number portability on mobile phones can be made available for a one-time payment of Rs 200.

In a statement Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has said the number portability should be implemented from April 1, 2007. The regulator also asked Department of Telecom (DoT) to make suitable changes in the license enabling TRAI to issue guidelines in this regard.

The regulator says the cost of Rs 200 payable by the customers will enable the operator to recover the investment cost in 3-5 years. TRAI has also said the number portability facility be initially introduced within the service area only.

FOr fixed lines, TRAI has said number portability would be introduced later. The Government may mandate all UASLs/CMSPs to implement mobile number portability. It is appropriate to implement number portability in a phased manner starting from metros and A category service areas followed by B then C category service areas within an interval of six months.

According to TRAI, Mobile Number Portability (MNP) benefits subscribers, encourages improvement in quality of service through increased level of competition between service providers, rewarding those operators having better customer service, network coverage, and service quality.

"Considering the present status of telecom services in India, TRAI considers it an appropriate time to initiate process for implementing Mobile Number Portability so as to increase customer convenience, quality of service and further enhance competition among service providers in the mobile sector, it said.

All call query method should be implemented for mobile number portability in India, TRAi said. Mobile operators through neutral third party will establish logically centralised database with not more than 5 regionally located databases. Cost of this database will be borne proportionately based on subscriber base by each operator.

This database will be the depository for the ported numbers.

Any other issues relating to creation of database, interfaces, performance parameters, service levels will be resolved by discussion and coordination among all the stakeholders. A steering committee consisting of operators, industry association and TEC under the aegis of TRAI will be constituted to workout the details of the implementation issues.

Customer will approach recipient operator for porting in respect of porting charges, only recipient operator shall be permitted to charge a fee for successful porting.

UNI RT SD HT1820