TRAI says MNP norms by August-end; asks operators to be ready

Telecom regulator TRAI today said the guidelines for mobile number portability are likely to be ready by August-end and asked operators to keep their networks ready to roll out the services quickly.

"We will have an open-house on the porting charges on August 11. Within 2-3 weeks from then we will issue the final guidelines on MNP. The clearing house and operators should be ready with their network so that after announcement of the guidelines the service could be implemented," TRAI Member R N Prabhakar said on the sidelines of a conference here.

Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura last month said that mobile number portability will come by the year-end.

Mobile number portability (MNP) service allows subscribers switch to another service provider or from one technology to another while retaining their mobile number.

The Department of Telecommunications had issued guidelines for MNP implementation in August last year. Earlier in March, DoT selected two US companies — Syniverse and Telcordia — as technology providers, called as clearing house, for the implementation.     

TRAI is working on regulations and the charges for the same.