The long-awaited mobile number portability (MNP), which allows customers to change operators but retain the same mobile number, will be rolled out in November in phases. This new porting facility will ensure effective competition and improve quality in mobile telecom services. Simultaneously, the grievances and problems that mobile operators possibly face should not be neglected. The process of porting involves all the mobile operators and requires them to upgrade network infrastructure so that the calls of customers who have opted out of one service provider can be seamlessly re-routed. The government and the Department of Telecommunications should help mobile operators upgrade their networks in all possible ways and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India should consider limiting both the number of portings within a specific period of time and the porting fee.
P Senthil Saravana Durai, Hyderabad
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