Mobile Number Portability

Back in the day’s people mostly used wire lines to communicate. It was noticed that customers never liked if they had to change there telephone numbers if they move from one place to other.

The wireless industry was just picking up then.Number Portability came making it possible for subscribers to move from one place to other, one service provider to other and one service to other without changing their telephone/mobile numbers. Number portability (NP) was designed for wire-line industry keeping the wire-less industry in view.

There was need for additional technology to be in place for NP to operate. A number portability data base was created and all the subscriber numbers who have ported were stored in it.

Since multiple operators are involved it was decided to bring in place a neutral vendor to manage and maintain this data base. In case of India it is Telecordia. The whole country was divided into zone and each zone had a NP data base. As in case of India its Zone2.

All the service providers in the zone are required to have a connection to NP database so as to find out the call routing information for a subscriber. This service is some thing similar to call-forwarding except that subscribers will not have to pay for the forwarding service. Subscriber in one zone can be easily ported from one service provider to other if NP database is updated.

In our case, that is India, Telecordia is the neutral vendor. Zone 2 consists of following circles.

• Kolkata
• Tamil Nadu including Chennai
• Andhra Pradesh
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Madhya Pradesh
• West Bengal
• Assam
• Bihar
• North East
• Orissa

Usually porting the number from one service provider to other should not take much time but a maximum of 2 days is assumed to be ok. Charges for NP should be bare minimum. In few countries NP is free!

What this means to subscribers: – Freedom from changing their contact numbers if relocated, Freedom from service providers clutches, Easy access to various plans in other service providers.

What this means to service providers: – More competition. Network overhead for call routing and numerous initial complaints!

what is mobile number portability (MNP)

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is a facility which allows you to move to another operator from your existing operator while retaining your existing operator’s mobile number.MNP is applicable for porting between mobile operators only, in the same telecom Circle. Also, by regulation, customer can port-into another operator only if he/she has been with that operator for at least 90 days.

Steps to move your mobile number to airtel

1. To begin with, you need to generate UPC (Unique Porting Code) by sending SMS to 1900. UPC is an alphanumeric code allocated, upon request, by a mobile operator to its subscriber for the purpose of facilitation of porting of his/her mobile number to another operator.
• SMS to be sent : PORT to 1900. Operator SMS charges will be applicable.
• Eg. SMS PORT 98XXXXXXXX to 1900

2. After sending SMS to 1900, you will receive UPC (Unique Porting Code) as a SMS from 1901 giving 8 digit alpha-numeric Unique Porting Code (UPC) and UPC expiry date in MM/DD/YYYY format

3. Visit your nearest airtel outlet / showroom

4. Fill airtel Mobile Number Porting (MNP) form providing details like
• Current Mobile Number
• Current Operator name
• UPC code

5. Submit Address & Id proof documents, self-attested photo and last bill copy of postpaid connection (if applicable) along-with filled MNP form and Customer Agreement Form.

6. Buy the airtel MNP SIM card from airtel outlet / showroom. SIM charges, talktime value and porting charge are non-refundable in the event of cancellation / rejection of port-in request.

7. airtel will send an SMS on your old/existing operator’s SIM (existing connection) intimating about the porting date and time, i.e. the date and approximate time till when you can continue to use your existing operator’s SIM card.

8. There will be a 2-hour ‘no service period’ which will begin after the porting time as given above. The ‘no service period’ will be between 12 midnight to 5 am during which your mobile service will not be active on any SIM. All efforts will be made to ensure that this ‘no service period’ causes minimum inconvenience to you.

9. After the ‘no service period’, you can replace your existing operator’s SIM card with the new airtel SIM card in your handset.

Airtel Subscribers can connect with Airtel Presence 24X7 and they will be happy to assist you with a swift resolution to your queries on all products and services on Twitter – http://bit.ly/fKcSxc and on Facebook – http://on.fb.me/cECyvS

nutty April 14, 2013 at 11:57 am

i am using airtel prepaid mobile at Rajasthan circle.
Can I change the mobile number to airtel tamilnadu circle?.
what is the procedure for changing circle to circle of airtel mobile without changing the number?.

Pratik Kulkarni August 13, 2011 at 8:45 am

Is there any procedure to change from one circle to another?

JD August 12, 2011 at 12:41 pm

Dear All,
MNP is operational across the country for the past 6 months. In fact June exit there have been 12.9 mn. Port out requests generated across all circles across India. (TT also has a topic in relation to the same). Also in the above process, while its right, the current operator can reserve the right to cancel the Port Out request in case there is any customer outstanding or any other reason

Shaiju February 8, 2011 at 12:23 pm

So is that possible to change circles?

Anked Paralkar September 21, 2010 at 6:58 pm

What about ZONE 1…when MNP will be implemented in ZONE 1.

KING OF PUNJAB September 21, 2010 at 3:04 am

Nice Topic..

Parvej September 20, 2010 at 9:44 pm

@Dharmesh YAH IN RAJASTHAN AIRTEL WILL BE HAVING ADVANTAGE…….

riju September 20, 2010 at 8:31 pm

please just walk from caltex junction to fort road through old busstand. You can see ‘free sim in

riju September 20, 2010 at 8:27 pm

@lee
cheers doesn’t start their services commercially

lee September 20, 2010 at 8:23 pm

@riju
do u work @ a mobile shop?
Where is it located in kannur?

lee September 20, 2010 at 8:21 pm

@riju
do u get all d sim’s 4 free.
Could u get me cheers. . . ?

riju September 20, 2010 at 8:11 pm

@lee
Dear lee there is no need to spend RS.19 for MNP to test all the networks.Already free sims are available with more than Rs.50 talk time , free gprs , free sms etc.

lee September 20, 2010 at 8:09 pm

So many doubt regarding mnp. . .

lee September 20, 2010 at 8:08 pm

Please launch a faq forum. . .

PPA September 20, 2010 at 8:03 pm

ashR :

AWARA :@ashR It’s Simple You Can Change The Operator Without Changing The Number For Example If You are Using AirTel and You are dissatisfied With Satisfied With it’s Services And You Want to Wish to Switch To Docomo You Can Port Your Number To DOCOMO Service By Some Methods. Go to Wikipedia and Type Mobile Number Portability in Search List.

i know abt MNP…bt i want to ask that is this article saying abt launching of MNP in India…………..and one more thing i am using Airtel and completely satisfied from it…..no need of docomo , aircel….and thanks for ur reply

why you guys always dispute with each other???
you guys plzz meet each others and fight on the street! I think it would be better than this!

Agnivo September 20, 2010 at 6:34 pm

Also, BTW, Telcordia (local subsidiary MNP Interconnection) is on the verge of losing it’s license and moving court… hope TT does more research on this.

Gourav September 20, 2010 at 6:32 pm

By 31st October mnp will launch nation wide & this time this date will not change..

Agnivo September 20, 2010 at 6:30 pm

@Merc
I think there will be a free service like SMS to 5xxxx and it returns the operator to the user. And this 5xxxx sms gateway will be run by the MNP implementors.

lee September 20, 2010 at 6:28 pm

A good Opportunity to test all our network’s. Instead of buying a new sim all d time. . . :-”

ashR September 20, 2010 at 5:57 pm

AWARA :@ashR It’s Simple You Can Change The Operator Without Changing The Number For Example If You are Using AirTel and You are dissatisfied With Satisfied With it’s Services And You Want to Wish to Switch To Docomo You Can Port Your Number To DOCOMO Service By Some Methods. Go to Wikipedia and Type Mobile Number Portability in Search List.

i know abt MNP…bt i want to ask that is this article saying abt launching of MNP in India…………..and one more thing i am using Airtel and completely satisfied from it…..no need of docomo , aircel….and thanks for ur reply

Merc September 20, 2010 at 5:53 pm

@dUaNe
what Sandeep meant was , End users will not be able to identify the service provider by looking at the mobile number. He is not talking about the billing systems.

Renju September 20, 2010 at 5:52 pm

@Devraj

Even most of the other operators are also having good coverage now, and Airtel is not upgrading their network according to the no:of users. I’m a blackberry user of Airtel and Tata Docomo in my windows mobile with active sync push mail service. I feel my Windows mobile with Tata Docomo is performing well with my mailing system even though i like Blackberry is terms of power optimizations.

AWARA September 20, 2010 at 5:49 pm

@ashR
It’s Simple You Can Change The Operator Without Changing The Number For Example If You are Using AirTel and You are dissatisfied With Satisfied With it’s Services And You Want to Wish to Switch To Docomo You Can Port Your Number To DOCOMO Service By Some Methods. Go to Wikipedia and Type Mobile Number Portability in Search List.

dUaNe September 20, 2010 at 5:33 pm

@Sandeep Gupta

SANDEEP… who told you “if MNP implemented, we are unable to identify the operators… ” ???

Each operator will have unique 4 digit code (know as LMP) which will determine charging bewteen on-net and off-net calls !!

ashR September 20, 2010 at 5:00 pm

friends muje to ye topic hi samajh nhi aya…..can anyone explain in short

Sandeep Gupta September 20, 2010 at 4:20 pm

With my view the MNP is not worth it for customers in India. I remember when reliance started CDMA services, they offered earlier R 2 R cheaper plan, but after TRAI decided the charge flat rates on one technology 2 other technology (link CDMA 2 CDMA & GSM 2 GSM) after that rates become stable … no reduction in the tariff. Later again the removed this provision and lunched the Universal LIC, after that the price war started.. operators given offer like R2R, A2A, V2V and BSNL2BSNL free with lower fixed price. Now we identify the operators by there starting number string.

Now if MNP implemented, we are unable to identify the operators, thus new rates will be lunched by operators.

When operators have no control on call routing, the rates will be higher i am sure..

So wish No MNP for now.

Rajesh September 20, 2010 at 4:00 pm

When MNP starts in India.. i have MTNL & m want to change in Reliance or other network becoz no gud plan of SMS & roaming also costly in MTNL Dolphin Delhi…

TREMERIN D'SOUZA September 20, 2010 at 3:50 pm

@Devraj
YES DEVRAJ AIRTEL HAS EXCELLENT NETWORK COVERAGE ON PAN INDIA BASIS MAY BE THE BEST COVERAGE ,AS I AM FROM UDUPI I KNOW AIRTEL IS BEST IN KARNATAKA IN TERMS OF COVERAGE BUT MY FRIEND IT’S SCHEMES AND PLANS ARE FAR BEHIND EVEN IDEA,VODAFONE THE OLD OPERATORS SO THIS FACTOR MAY AFFECT THEM ADVERSELY THE ONLY POSITIVE ASPECT AIRTEL HAS IS ITS NETWORK & AVAILABILITY ON BASIS OF WHICH IT HAS GOT POPULAR.

AWARA September 20, 2010 at 3:42 pm

@Devraj
HELLO DEV AIRTEL IS THE MOST FRAUD COMPANY. ALREADY AIRTEL’S ADDITION GOT DOWN IN MOST OF THE CIRCLES AND SURELY DOCOMO WILL BEAT AIRTEL

Devraj September 20, 2010 at 3:42 pm

I heard some telecom companies have approached to court against MNP is it true

Devraj September 20, 2010 at 3:35 pm

@TREMERIN D’SOUZA

TREMERIN D’SOUZA :
@Devraj
AIRTEL HAS WON MOST OF RURAL MASSES BY THEIR NETWORK COVERAGE AND NO ONE IN RURAL AREAS WILL EVER GET THE IDEA OF M.N.P,IT WILL BE A BATTLE GROUND MOSTLY IN URBAN & SEMI-URBAN AREAS WHERE ALMOST ALL MOBILE OPERATORS HAVE GOOD NETWORK COVERAGE,AND CUSTOMERS ARE ARE ATTRACTED TO ATTRACTIVE SCHEMES AND OFFERS BY RIVALS.

Dear Friend
In cities like Bangalore also where Airtel is having good coverage than all others. I am not a Airtel subscriber but planning to shift to Aitel after MNP

Ganesh Srinivasan September 20, 2010 at 3:31 pm

Does it mean carrying the same number across circles / is it limited to the same circle?

TREMERIN D'SOUZA September 20, 2010 at 3:13 pm

@Devraj
AIRTEL HAS WON MOST OF RURAL MASSES BY THEIR NETWORK COVERAGE AND NO ONE IN RURAL AREAS WILL EVER GET THE IDEA OF M.N.P,IT WILL BE A BATTLE GROUND MOSTLY IN URBAN & SEMI-URBAN AREAS WHERE ALMOST ALL MOBILE OPERATORS HAVE GOOD NETWORK COVERAGE,AND CUSTOMERS ARE ARE ATTRACTED TO ATTRACTIVE SCHEMES AND OFFERS BY RIVALS.

Devraj September 20, 2010 at 3:01 pm

@Renju

Renju :
End of Airtel

No man I think Airtel will gain because they have good coverage

TREMERIN D'SOUZA September 20, 2010 at 2:50 pm

can someone explain about various zones in detail and can i change my MUMBAI CIRCLE number to KARNATAKA CIRCLE.MAHARASHTRA lies in which zone.

Arnab September 20, 2010 at 2:07 pm

It seems to be so easy, but actually the whole operation need more than 2 years to be implemented. But this would be really a good invention for customer.

Dharmesh September 20, 2010 at 1:54 pm

I guess its the end of idea, vodafone and reliance(at least here in rajasthan)

AWARA September 20, 2010 at 1:37 pm

I THINK MNP WILL LEADS TO GAIN MOST OF THE CUSTOMERS FOR NEW GSM PLAYERS

AWARA September 20, 2010 at 1:32 pm

WONDERFUL TOPIC BUT WHY GOVT OF INDIA DIDN’T LAUNCHED MNP FOR PAN-INDIA

Karthik Kumar V G September 20, 2010 at 1:30 pm

@Raj
Yes you can change from CDMA to GSM and GSM to CDMA since this MNP all about port mapping from one operator to another operator and nothing else.

doc_dip September 20, 2010 at 1:09 pm

hahahha sure it is..hope to see their pathetic service will surely be a past thing

Raj September 20, 2010 at 1:06 pm

What about Change of Technology ?? i.e. from CDMA to GSM & vice versa ???

shiva September 20, 2010 at 1:03 pm

actually wat does the topic mean?

Renju September 20, 2010 at 12:47 pm

End of Airtel

amar September 20, 2010 at 12:45 pm

@lee i am using indicom from 2005 their network is good but with very few offers.
Tata docomo gives me more offer like (30 Rs talktime on 20 Rs.)Via their promotional msg and many.i am using docomo from its launch in kolkata.

lee September 20, 2010 at 12:27 pm

Conformation on mnp? Bout when it’s launch?

lee September 20, 2010 at 12:25 pm

@amar
hey, could u share ur experience with indicom.

Nidish Vashistha September 20, 2010 at 12:22 pm