Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is the service which allows mobile users to move from one service provider to another without changing their existing 10-digit mobile number. In India the Department of Telecommunciation (DoT) has identified two MNP service providers – Syniverse Technologies and Telcordia Technologies - to carry out the task of MNP implementation across the country. Phase I was slated to be rolled out by 20 September 2009.
DoT has just informed of an extension in the date for implementation of Mobile Number Portability.In a press release issued on 03 Septembert, the DoT quoted MNP "requires customization ad upgradation of the existing networks to be capable of providing MNP service.
Certain technical and commercail issues related to MNP service are also being resolved. All this requires considerable time and effort. Therefore it has been decided by the Department to extend the date of implementation of Mobile Number Portability in Metro and Category 'A' Service Areas to 31st December 2009 in the first phase. Accordingly, the MNP service is likely to be available by end 2009 ti begin with in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, TamilNadu including Chennai and Karnataka Service Areas.
So all those eagerly awaiting MNPby 20 September will have to wait until the end of 2009 for the service to be made available. Meanwhile, in case you wish to know more about MNP check outour earlier post on MNP - MOBILE NUMBER PORTABILITY (MNP): "THE NEXT BIG JUMP"
