Election effects on MNP : Next Union Government decides on full mobile number portability
The Department of Telecom will place the matter of full mobile number portability before the Telecom Commission, an inter-ministerial panel, at its meeting proposed for 3 March 2014, which may be around the time the model code of conduct will be implemented ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, sources said.
A decision on full mobile number portability, which will allow customers to switch telecom operators in any part of the country without changing their numbers, is likely to finalized by the next Union government.
“The Telecom Commission is proposed to meet on March 3 but it is not yet finalised. The full MNP proposal may be placed before the commission. DoT working group has raised certain concern on Trai’s recommendations, for which the matter may be sent back to the regulator,” sources said.
At present, mobile number portability is allowed within a telecom service area, which normally corresponds to a state or metro city. Full portability will allow customers to retain their numbers while shifting to a network in any part of the country.
The commission also has to take a call on setting up mobile towers in Naxal-affected areas, a proposal approved by the Cabinet a few days after 27 people, including senior Congress party leaders, were killed by ultra forces in Chhattisgarh last year.
