Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Starting Friday, the nationwide mobile number portability (MNP) has become a reality with mobile operators Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and others rolling out the policy that will allow customers to retain their existing numbers across the country while they can change their service provider.
From today, mobile customers, including those of state-run BSNL and MTNL, will be able to retain their number anywhere across India, either by retaining the same service provider or changing to a new service provider of their choice in the new state.
However, other telecom service providers such as Uninor, Sistema Shyam Teleservices and Videocon will roll out the service by July 3, the deadline fixed by the government for full roll out of MNP.
The policy will give the customers the right to carry their existing mobile number from one telecom circle to another across the country where they will be free to choose an operator of their choice without having to change their numbers.
Earlier, in a statement, Airtel said its customers can enjoy special offers like processing requests to port within Airtel's network within 24 hours and free incoming on roaming until the portability request is processed.
Vodafone said, "Customers looking for the convenience of retaining their existing number at the new location can avail the benefits of national MNP service."
"Vodafone has benefited from the intra-circle MNP that was rolled out in 2011 and we look forward to a similar response this time," Vodafone India Chief Commercial Officer Vivek Mathur said.
Idea Cellular said it has enabled its network to roll out the DoT mandated national MNP services for mobile users across the country.
"Idea has been the MNP leader with over 14 million net gain of customers so far, through intra circle MNP services. The company is now ready to enable national MNP by allowing its own users to retain their numbers even if they move out of a circle and also take on new customers who wish to switch to Idea network from their current service provider," Idea said.
Reliance Communications said it is ready to roll out MNP nationally from July 3 onwards.
"Reliance Communications will also be offering attractive and aggressive plans for both its pre-paid and post-paid customers, as well as customers porting in from other networks, to ensure that this is a seamless and easy transition," a company spokesperson said.
State-run BSNL and MTNL also confirmed the rollout. Sistema Shyam Teleservices, which offers services under MTS brand name said it welcomes the government's decision to roll out MNP on a PAN India basis from July 3.
"The company is fully geared up to comply with the deadline. The move will enable MTS India to quickly and efficiently process all number portability requests," a MTS spokesperson said.
A Uninor spokesperson said the company has upgraded its backend IT and network infrastructure to ensure a smooth implementation of MNP, which will facilitate customers to switch operators across circles without changing numbers.
"Our retail network and the customer care executives have been trained to aptly handle the queries of our valued customers with regard to the national MNP," Uninor said.
Videocon Telecom CEO and Director Arvind Bali said, "What we feel is inter circle no portability is more of a need based utility, unlike intra circle portability where the customer reasons could be dissatisfaction from quality of service and tariffs etc." "We are expecting a positive uptake on full number portability. Customers can expect a completely seamless experience while porting on to the Tata Docomo network. There will be no acquisition fee for porting from Tata Docomo to Tata Docomo and customers can enjoy free incoming on roaming on Tata network until the portability request is processed," Tata Teleservices Head Marketing Gurinder Singh Sandhu said.
With PTI Inputs
