Govt revises deadline for number portability

The government today said it would introduce mobile number portability (MNP) across the country by March 31, a three-month delay from the scheduled launch. MNP, which would allow mobile users to retain their numbers even after changing their operators, was scheduled to start today in all the metros and category A circles, followed by rest of the circles by March 20.

After a series of meetings with the operators to assess their readiness for implementing MNP, it was found that while some have technically upgraded and augmented their networks and some have established physical links with MNP operators, others are still in the process.

“The government has now decided to implement MNP in whole of the country in one go, by 31st March 2010,” an official statement said.

The concerned service providers are being given a time frame by the Department of Telecommunications for various activities, the statement added.