Trai to impose fine on operators for flouting MNP norms

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Thursday said it will levy penalty ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 on mobile phone operators for flouting mobile number portability (MNP) regulations.

MNP is a service that allows users to switch operators while retaining their mobile numbers. It was implemented across the country last January, while the pilot launch of the service took place in Haryana on November 25, 2010.

According to officials, the telecom regulator had been receiving a number of complaints from subscribers, saying their porting requests have been rejected by operators.

"In order to ensure compliance of MNP regulations by access providers, the authority has decided to amend the regulations to incorporate the provisions for levying financial disincentives where contravention is established," the regulator said in its fourth amendment to the Telecommunications Mobile Number Portability Regulations, 2009.

 

In cases where deviation is noticed by Trai, in the specified timelines by a service provider, a financial disincentive of Rs 5,000 will be levied for each contravention. In cases where contravention is established in rejection of porting request by a service provider, a financial disincentive of an amount of Rs 10,000 will be levied for each rejection, it added.

These regulations will come into effect after 60 days so that service providers streamline their current processes in conformity with the MNP regulations.

According to Trai, till July 2012, almost 60 million customers have opted for MNP so far across the country.

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