Trai proposes fee of Rs 200 for number portability

Just days prior to his term coming to an end, Trai chairman Pradip Baijal today recommended that number portability on mobile phones can be made available for a one-time payment of Rs 200.

Number protability will allow customers to switch operators while retaining the old number.

The regulator said that the Rs 200 payable by the customers will enable the operator to recover his investments in 3-5 years. Further, it has also recommended that number portability be introduced within the service area only.

According to Trai, number portability should be implemented from April 1, 2007, and has asked the department of telecom (DoT) to make suitable changes in the licences enabling Trai to issue guidelines in this regard.