MOBILE NUMBER PORTABILITY SET TO CHANGE MARKET DYNAMICS

Reports suggest that the mobile number
portability system is becoming highly popular among
the mobile users in India. The number of requests for
mobile number portability has increased nearly
threefold as compared to the new users. The whopping
surge in MNP requests is expected to play a key role in
changing market shares for operators in near future.
The recent data released by TRAI says, in August
2011, nearly 18.1 million MNP requests were made as
compared to the 7.3 million new subscriptions in that
month.Reports further reveal that the number of
MNP has “steadily” grown since its launch, while the
number of new users being added by all operators has
dropped.
Under the mobile number portability system, a mobile
subscriber can switch to any new service provider
without changing number. This facility is however
available within the state only, but the draft National
Telecom Policy 2011 proposes free roaming pan-India
number portability. Check out our previous coverage
on the National Telecom Policy 2011 here.
The MNP system has not only benefitted the
subscriber but also the companies. According to reports,
every operator except Videocon has managed to
expand their bases after the launch of the number
portability system.
The MNP requests hike news comes days after TRAI
slammed Vodafone for rejecting MNP requests of
many its subscribers. TRAI said that the reasons given
by Vodafone for rejecting the MNP requests were not
justified. "Majority of porting rejections have been
primarily of the ground of contractual obligation;
however, customers complained that they did not
enter into such agreement with Vodafone," Trai said in
its direction issued.