Mobile Number Portability

Mobile Number Portability

After innumerable delays, a lot of finger pointing and teeth gnashing, the much awaited Mobile Number Portability service has been launched. MNP allows mobile users to switch cellular operators, without having to change their mobile number. Till now, if a user was not happy with the service provided by a cellular operator, the only option was to give up the existing mobile number and sign up for a new one, with another operator. This was proving to be a bit annoying for a lot of people, since changing mobile numbers literally amounted to losing one’s identity. The new number would have to be communicated to a lot of contacts, and inevitably, you would miss out on some!

However, with the arrival of MNP, this is not the case. Users can change operators but retain the same mobile number. If you are unhappy with the service, or want to shift to a better tariff plan available with another operator, MNP allows you to do that. This service is available to prepaid and postpaid mobile users, on the GSM and CDMA platforms.

The impact of MNP will be immense. Not only will operators be forced to offer better services, but also keep tariffs very competitive in order to retain customers and try to gain new ones. The consumer will be the winner, because porting the number will also allow then to get the best deals, in case the current operator refuses to offer something similar.

What is MNP?
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) allows all mobile phone users to change between cellular operators, while retaining their existing mobile number. Until now, every time anyone wanted to shift to another operator, the mobile number would get changed. It was extremely time-consuming and annoying to inform all contacts about the new contact co-ordinates. However, now the user has to sign up for the MNP process, select which operator he wants to shift to, and retain the same number on the new network as well.

Is it available for all users?
Yes. MNP is available to all eligible postpaid and prepaid users.

What is the porting process?
All users who wish to change operators need to follow the following steps:

· SMS “PORTmobilenumber” to 1900. This SMS needs to be sent from the same mobile phone which the user wants to port.

· Once the SMS is sent, the user will receive an SMS with the Unique Porting Code (UPC) from the existing service provider.

· Using this UPC, you will fill up the application form with the new service provider. Users will need to specify the tariff plan etc. which you have selected. This will be activated by the new operator, once the number is ported.

· The porting process will be completed within 7-10 working days.

· The process will cost a one-time fee of Rs 19.

What about the existing talktime balance on the prepaid?
During the porting process, any existing balance or talktime will not be transferred to the new operator. It is better to utilize it fully before requesting for the change.

What about any unpaid bills/ unbilled amount for postpaid users?
Users will have to clear all outstanding bills and pay the unbilled amount before the porting process can begin. None of these charges will be forwarded to the new network.

Who do I follow up with during the porting process?
This is a two-step process. Once you put in the porting request, you need to follow up with the current service provider. Once you receive the SMS saying that the number has been ported to the new operator, you need to start following up with the new operator, to check about the activation status etc.

There are some specific rules which define the porting process.

· All bills/unpaid amount/unbilled balance will have to be paid in full before the porting process can begin. No amount- either unpaid or overpaid, will be carried forward to the new network.

· Mobile users who have purchased a new connection can only port for the first time after 90 days from the date of activation of the connection.

· Any user, who has ported the number once, can only do so again after a gap of 90 days from the date of activation of connection on new network.

· Users can withdraw the porting request within 24 hours of submitting the application form. However, once the process has been completed by the existing operator, there is no way to stop the process.

· Users can only port to service providers who offer services within their telecom circle. Tariff plans and schemes offered will be those currently being offered in the circle, currently.

· No inter-circle porting is available at the moment. If someone is shifting between states, MNP will not be available to them.

Here is the comparison chart of some of the options I was considering: (so basically this is just MY research, I suggest you do your own too).

Currently, I use:

1 postpaid VF number: purely private personal calls only : especially family & friends. Advantage: 1 number at 10 paise @ 25 rs a month, V2V @ 30p & rest @ 60p/min.

1 Reliance GSM prepaid number: my official number, my professional cellphone.

Advantage: Great roaming, 1p/sec to any1 in India even while roaming. Amazing internet @ 99 rs /month (seriously, I use a LOT), 500 sms / day free for 1 Rupee only ( & I sms a lot too)

Disadvantage: relatively poor network.

1Reliance CDMA prepaid number: my Clinic LANDLINE, a portable common landline number for any of my clinics, switched on @ 9 am, switched off @ 9pm everyday.

50p/min flat to any1 anywhere in India even while roaming & AMAZING rock solid network, the BEST.

Disadvantage: PATHETIC choice of handsets ! Often embarrassing to shell out such a stupid phone from your pocket (the reason why I got a R Gsm number too).

I plan to change R GSM to Tata DoCoMo soon.

	Prepaid	Prepaid	Prepaid	Postpaid	Postpaid
	Tata DoCoMo	Vodafone	Reliance GSM	Tata DoCoMo	Vodafone (many other plans as well)
Initial Cost	49 Rs	506 / 507	49 / 50 /51	299 / month	99 or 99 / month
Validity	Lifetime *	1 year	Lifetime*	monthly	monthly
Talktime	0	458.75 / 459.66	0	75 Rs local Tata minutes free	99 min FREE per month
Call charges (charges on roaming differ)	Local: 1p/Sec STD: 2p/ Sec	All calls 1p/sec Or All calls 50p/min	1p /sec Or 50p/ min Or 1 R / 3 min (EVEN on ROAMING)	1p /sec to ALL	V2V 1p/s 1.5p/s others 2.5p/sec STD Or V2V 50p/min 1R/M to all others
Calling add on packs	49 Rs all calls 1p/2 sec for 30 days 79 Rs all calls 1p/2sec for 4 months	NONE	Keeps changing	Lots of “Toppings” 12000 Local + 9000 STD min free… etc..	15 Rs per month – 20 p /min to any 1 VF number 30 Rs p.m. – 30 p/m to all V2V only
SMS cost	60 paise local sms (but 1^st 3 sms / day charged then 100 sms per day free)	1 Rs / SMS local 1.5 /sms National	1p /sms Or 50p /sms Or 1 R/ sms	60 paise local sms (but 1^st 3 sms / day charged then 100 sms per day free)	1 Rs / SMS local 1.5 /sms National
SMS packs (check for daily cap limit, holiday charges & roaming charges)	85 Rs – 15000 Local + National SMS per month (500 /day)	35 Rs – 350 local sms – 30 days 89 rs – 500/day local sms for 30 days (not valid for roaming or national)	19 Rs 1 time charge: 1 R / day auto-deduction. 500 sms /day (local + national) Even on roaming	29 R – 600 L+N sms free / 30 d 49 R – 1500 L+N sms free / 30 d 89 R – 1500 L+N sms free / 30 d	149 rs – 500 sms /day for 30 days. 35 Rs – all sms 10 paise – for 30 days
GPRS (includes push email, browsing, chatting, tethering on most phones)	149 – 8Gb – 30d 95 – 6Gb – 30d 65 – 2.5Gb – 30d 48 – 1Gb – 30d	99 Rs – 1Gb for 30 days	99 Rs – 2.5 Gb – 30d 51 Rs – 1Gb – 15d	49 R – 500 Mb – 30 d 99 R – 2 Gb – 30 d	199 rs per month for VF Live – 5p /10kb
Other Features	FREE – Missed call alerts, Voicemail and Voice Chat Also, many other packs as per requirement	Just great network	Good network on roaming, OK in Mumbai. Call & sms all same & cheap on roaming as well. SMS on holidays also free.	FREE – Missed call alerts, Voicemail and Voice Chat Also, many other packs as per requirement	Good billing system, convenient payment kiosks, good service & network but EXPENSIVE

*Cumulative recharge of atleast 200 Rs over 6 months is compulsory.

Comments (8)

Nishant Bhatia
February 18, 2011

I have been trying to port-out of Airtel since 15 days now!! But there is sumthin which is delaying the port process!! I'm moving to Reliance GSM!! The only reason being that they have 3g in Mumbai!!

Dr. Kruti Mehta
February 18, 2011

Wow! Great job man! It seems you have done a lot of research for this. Very helpful for all who had any doubts about MNP.
Great going man! Thank You

Dr. Suraj A. Dhirwani
February 18, 2011

@ Nishant …
A lot of people I know are shifting to R GSM !
Good for u !

the plans are pretty awesome !
Welcome abord !

Dr. Suraj A. Dhirwani
February 18, 2011

@ Dr. Kruti !

Thanks a lot for those wonderful words !

Its the first time you have actually appreciated something I did & even supported me !
Thank you very much !!!

Unknown
June 29, 2013

Its a great initiative by TRAI.Mobile Number Portability is a service that enables you to keep your mobile phone number when changing from one mobile service provider to another.It’s a WIN-WIN situation for the subscribers, the Network Operators and the Regulator.Now I can avail the benefits of Reliance 3G Postpaid Plans In Kolkata

Ramesh
January 13, 2014

How many it cost? do you know about Numberbazaar who provide Mobile Number Portabilityonline?

Unknown
April 1, 2014

Thanks for giving information.
Your post was very useful to transfer my mobile number.
I followed your steps and got my new network sim.But my mobile won't accept this sim.At that time,I had no idea about .I bought this phone from my closest friend.So i called him and discussed about this problem.He said ,I needed to unlock my phone.For unlocking i referred
WickedUnlock.com Now i really enjoy my new network service..

Unknown
May 8, 2020

With MNP Reliance you can now keep your mobile number & join RCOM. You no longer need to be tied into an operator because of your number.

Dr Suraj A. Dhirwani

Dr Suraj A. Dhirwani

Comments (8)

Nishant Bhatia

Dr. Kruti Mehta

Dr. Suraj A. Dhirwani

Dr. Suraj A. Dhirwani

Unknown

Ramesh

Unknown

Unknown

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Dr Suraj Dhirwani

Mobile Number Portability

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