 "Govt warns of action if telcos miss full-MNP deadline")
"We have given them (telecom operators) sufficient time of six months. This is not the first time MNP is starting in the country. We are only extending to pan-India. If they miss deadline then whatever action is there under law will take its own course," Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg told PTI.
At present, mobile number portability (MNP) allows subscribers to change mobile network while retaining their number in same telecom circles.
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The full MNP will allow subscribers to retain their mobile number in any part of the country even they change their operator or shift from one city to another.
Industry body the Cellular Operators Association of India had said last week that telecom operators might not be able to meet the deadline of May 3 due to some technical and coordination issues that they were facing as well as due to delay in notifying rule of full MNP by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
The COAI has requested the DoT to form a committee that can coordinate between private telecom players and public sector companies BSNL and MTNL for conducting networks tests in time to facilitate full MNP.
Garg said that there is no need of any separate committee in this regard.
The Telecom secretary also shared that government today extended pre-paid services in Jammu and Kashmir as well as North East for period of next two years.
"Today cabinet secretary took meeting on the subject and after review it was decided to extend pre-paid mobile service in J&K and North for period of next two years," Garg said.
The pre-paid services in J&K and North East states are reviewed periodically due to security reasons.
The permit to provide pre-paid services in these regions was expiring on March 31.