India lags in MNP implementation

By agencies   |   Friday, 16 June 2006, 19:30 IST   |    1 Comments
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NEW DELHI: International Markets Telecom Services, Telecordia Technologies is working out possibilities of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in India. However, disorganized numbering plan of mobile phones may delay the proposed deployment here. While the alpha launch has already happened in countries like Saudi Arabia and is projected to go operational by the end of this month, MNP would become operational in Pakistan by October, said Suresh Subramanian, group senior vice president, International Markets Telecom Services, Telcordia Technologies. Telecordia has so far deployed MNP in six countries, he stated. “It is the right time (for India) for deployment (of MNP) as the subscriber base is growing as it would be easier for the operators to launch this service, which will bring about more competition for providing better services and would in turn benefit the subscribers,” he said. The deployment of the solution would take anywhere between 8-12 months based on the numbering plan as it is done on a national basis. In India, the numbers are allotted according to the circles and hence it would consume more time in deploying on a circular basis, said Subramaniam. Daniel J. Carroll, CEO, Telecordia Technologies said that the telecom policies of India do not speak about offering MNP, unlike countries like Pakistan which a policy regulation to offer this service. TRAI had issued recommendations for the MNP in March and said that it would be implemented in a year. It said that the facility would be available to mobile subscribers by April 1st 2007. However it had received opposition from a majority of the service providers who have been wondering if they would have to bear the cost of deploying the service or would they have to charge a fee from the customer for changing the service provider and retaining the number.