Mobile number portability gets delayed for third time

The government will miss the June 30 deadline to implement nationwide mobile number portability (MNP), as telecom public sectors MTNL and BSNL, and a new operator Uninor, are not ready with equipment. Department of Telecommunications (DoT) says a new deadline will be finalised after May 15. 

“Currently we are awaiting government approval to procure the equipment, after which we will install the gateways. We have already invited tenders worth Rs 8 crore for supply and installation of MNP gateways, as well as testing equipment,” a senior MTNL official said. A BSNL official said the company is yet to install the MNP gateway. BSNL has issued the advanced purchase order but is still to get the equipment. 

This is likely to delay the implementation of MNP as testing of equipment after installation would take at least a month. Apart from the two PSUs, Uninor is not ready with the equipment for MNP, according to a DoT official. However, the company said, “Uninor’s MNP gateway installation is underway. We expect it to be ready as per the timelines prescribed by DoT.” 

MNP will allow mobile subscribers to change service providers while retaining their numbers. MNP gateway is required to handle porting communication between operators. It has been delayed twice. Earlier, it was scheduled to be implemented in metros and Category A circles by December 31, 2009. It was deferred to March 31 for a nationwide launch, and then to June 30. “Based on successful completion of the action taken (tests), DoT will decide the dates for MNP implementation, which is expected by June 30,” DoT had said.