Mobile number portability will take more time

New Delhi, Jul 24: Looks like the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service will be delayed by three months. The service which was expected to be available by Sep 2009, will only be available in the year end.

"Mobile number portability will come by the end of this year," said telecom secretary Siddartha Behura on the sidelines of a conference.

He said that the delay in implementation was because its a novel services and regulations on this need to be prepared.

The MNP service will enable mobile users to retaining their numbers when when they switch from one service provider to another or from one technology to another of the same service provider.

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued guidelines for the implementation of the services in Aug 2008. It issued licenses to two companies each serving a separate zone in the country. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) is working on the regulations and charges.

The implementation of the service seems to have been hindered by the lack of political will which is leading the authorities to ask for more and more time.

OneIndia News