Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Service was launched by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh in the country on January 21, 2011. India has now joined the band wagon of advanced countries like USA, UK, and China etc. in providing the MNP. Implementation of MNP will not only give wider choices to the Indian subscribers but will also compel Service providers to offer innovative, affordable and competitive Tariff plans for the benefit of the masses.
Now mobile subscribers in all service areas across the country have the choice of selecting their telecom service provider within the Licensed Service Area without changing their number provided a minimum period of 90 days has elapsed after subscription to the mobile service of the current service provider.
For availing this facility the subscriber has to generate a unique porting code (UPC) by sending an SMS (PORT Mobile number) to 1900. With this UPC, the subscriber has to do all the formalities of registering as a new subscriber and present the UPC to the new service provider, in J&K; the prepaid subscriber shall call to 1900 and get the UPC from the operator. According to the Mobile Number Portability 90 days time is required to be completed with the existing service provider before applying for porting. Porting has to be completed within 7 working days except for J&K, Assam and North East Service Areas where 15 days time has been prescribed. TRAI has put a ceiling of Rs. 19/ – on porting charges which the new service provider may collect from the subscriber.
Post-paid subscribers before making the porting request, have to make sure that their last bill has been paid failing which the request for change to a new service provider shall be rejected. In the case of pre-paid subscriber any balance amount left will not be carried forward when the number is transferred to the new service provider.
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The MNP Service was initially launched in Haryana Licensed Service Area on 25.11.2010 which served as a pilot and helped resolve all problems in the countrywide implementation.