MNP to roll out in November

Telecom minister A Raja said mobile number portability (MNP), which allows subscribers to retain their cell numbers even after changing service operators, will be launched in Haryana on November 1. The service is expected to be rolled out in the rest of the country in phases. According to Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Association of Unified Service Providers of India (AUSPI), it will take an average of 15 days for a consumer to change his operator and a minimum of 50 days before the same number can be ported. In March 2006, Trai had recommended that the MNP be implemented by April 1, 2007. In December 2009, the government set a deadline of March 31, 2010, for its implementation, which was further extended to June 30 and again to October 31. Consumer organizations have alleged that links between government and big businesses have subverted consumer interests by delaying the MNP. The delays were mostly on account of a backlog of pending decisions and investments that several operators would have to make. In the end, BSNL also dragged its feet. The implementation of the MNP will protect consumer interests by reducing prices and improving the quality of service.