The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India?s (TRAI) attempts to modify the rules pertaining to mobile number portability (MNP) have been only partially successful.
Prior to this, the regulator had asked operators not to reject the porting requests of subscribers wanting to avail of the facility. However, the regulator?s direction in this regard did mention that MNP requests could be rejected as per the conditions mentioned under section 12 of the Telecommunications Mobile Number Portability Regulations.
Section 12 states that donor operators can reject porting requests if subscribers wish to retain their number while moving to a new service area and if they are made 90 days before activating a new connection.
Further, the regulator had mandates that operators can also reject porting requests if subscribers have outstanding dues and if the unique porting code mentioned in the request does not match the one given by the operator that the user wishes to leave.
The regulator has also asked operators to reject any request to cancel or withdraw the service. Now, news reports say that telecom operators are holding discussions with Telcordia Technologies and Syniverse Technologies in this context.
Operators have asked these two companies to establish automated systems for users wanting to withdraw their porting requests. If implemented, the customer can withdraw their MNP request within 24 hours, like before TRAI?s new recommendations.
