Telecom regulator Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) today announced that RCom 2G subscribers can now port out from the network to another network until January 31, 2018. Earlier today, Trai asked RCom not to kill the 'Unique Porting Codes' until January 31. The porting codes were supposed to expire on December 31, 2017.
To recall, Reliance Communications led by Anil Ambani, a couple of months ago announced the shutdown of its wireless business. Back then, the telco asked the customers to port out from RCom to another network by November 30, 2017, which was later on extended to December 31, 2017. And the new deadline for RCom 2G customers to port out to other network is January 31, 2018.
"Issuing directions in this regard, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has asked Reliance Communications to keep all the 'Unique Porting Codes' that were expiring on December 31 valid until January 31, 2018," a report from PTI said.
For the unaware, a Unique Porting Code (UPC) is issued to any mobile connection holder in the country when they place a request for Mobile Number Portability (MNP). With MNP, any user across the country can transfer the same mobile connection from one network to another network.
Trai also instructed RCom to issue a public note in newspapers regarding the extension of the validity of UPC. RCom has to clearly mention that the validity of Unique Porting Codes has been extended until January 31, and the users can join another network until the new deadline.
Furthermore, RCom will have to send the 'Unique Porting Codes' via an SMS to the subscribers who did not opt for RCom 4G services nor able to port out from the network. RCom is required to send a weekly compliance report through the entire month to Trai.
RCom stated that it had sent all the porting codes to the customers on the 2G network allowing them to port out to another network, in case if they're not interested in using RCom 4G services.
Trai said it has "received large number of complaints from the subscribers of Reliance Communications regarding their inability to port out the mobile number due to non-receipt of UPC by them".
RCom closed its 2G services in six circles- Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. The 2G services went off on December 1, 2017. RCom recently confirmed that Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio would take over its network infrastructure, which will bolster the latter's service offering in the country.
