Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in India allows mobile phone users to switch their service providers without changing their phone numbers. MNP was introduced to enhance competition among service providers, improve service quality, and provide more freedom and flexibility to consumers. Now, MNP requests in India have reached a significant milestone, surpassing 1 billion since the service was introduced in January 2011, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said on Friday.
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Evolution of MNP in India
Back then, customers using mobile services used to switch numbers if they faced network or coverage issues when they changed their location. Thanks to MNP, users can now just switch mobile network operators when they face coverage or service quality issues, based on the availability of service providers in their location.
MNP was launched on January 20, 2011, under the Telecom Mobile Number Portability Regulations, 2009, issued by the TRAI. This service enables telecom subscribers to retain their mobile numbers while switching from one service provider to another, anywhere in the country.
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Nationwide Implementation and Impact
MNP was launched in Haryana on November 25, 2010, and rolled out nationwide on January 20, 2011. Initially, MNP was restricted to within a circle, but from July 3, 2015, nationwide portability was introduced, allowing users to port their numbers across the country. This means users can switch numbers from one circle to another circle.
The Porting Process
Users must have been with their current service provider for at least 90 days before initiating the porting process. To start the porting process, users need to send an SMS to 1900 with the message "PORT" followed by their 10-digit mobile number. Upon meeting the eligibility criteria, a customer will receive a UPC, which is required for the porting application.
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Current Trends
Currently, approximately 11 million porting requests are processed each month in India. On July 6, 2024, the cumulative number of porting requests crossed the 100 crore (1 billion) mark, underscoring the widespread adoption and importance of MNP in the Indian telecom landscape, the regulatory body said.
