Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has asked all subscribers of Loop Mobile to avail mobile number portability to avoid last minute rush. Telecom regulator also asked to Loop Mobile users to take facility at least a week before November 29, after which the Mumbai-based firm will not be able to offer telecom services.
The company had to buy spectrum afresh to continue its operations but it did not participate in the auction held in February.
"TRAI appeals to all subscribers of Loop to avail of the facility of mobile number portability to port their mobile number to any operator of Mumbai service area, preferably at least one week before November 29, 2014 to avoid the last minute rush," TRAI said in a statement.
TRAI had earlier directed Loop Mobile to inform the date of closure of its services in Mumbai to all subscribers either in writing or by sending an SMS or email. A week ago, India’s biggest mobile operator, Bharti Airtel had canceled its plan to purchase business and assets of Mumbai based small operator Loop Mobile for about Rs 700 crore. It has been reported that the merger deal between Airtel and Loop has been hampered by Department of Telecom (DoT).
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DoT estimates that Loop Mobile and its sister concern Loop Telecom owe about Rs 808 crore in spectrum and other charges to the government.
The Loop mobile owned by Dubai based IP Khaitan and family, which operates only in Mumbai has three million users and Airtel has around four million users in Mumbai alone. The merger could have made Airtel the largest operator in Mumbai in terms of subscriber base.
