MNP to offer services for mobile number portability
MNP to offer services for mobile number portability
Bangalore: MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions India Pvt. Ltd on Wednesday said it will be ready to offer services for implementing mobile number portability in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kolkata by end September, allowing users in these states to change operators but retain their numbers.
Telecom minister A. Raja had told Parliament in February that the government would launch mobile number portability in the larger cities and states from September. In March, the department of telecommunications granted licences to Telcordia and Syniverse Technologies Inc., another US firm, to administer mobile number portability across the country. Mint couldn’t immediately ascertain whether the government’s deadline of September still stands.
Sapra expects 4-6% of all mobile phone users to use the facility annually. The three southern states and Kolkata have 73 million mobile phone users, according to MNP.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is yet to decide if customers have to pay for mobile number portability services.
MNP also plans to offer the service in Kerala, Orissa, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal by the end of March 2010. Telcordia is investing $10 million (Rs50 crore) in India to build infrastructure and manpower.
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