The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (IT) has set a deadline of September 2010 for the implementation of mobile number portability (MNP) services in the country. If the deadline is met, customers will have access to MNP services prior to the rollout of 3G services, which is scheduled for end2010 or early 2011. The introduction of MNP is expected to have an adverse impact on major operators such as Bharti Airtel, particularly in the Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kolkata, Kerala, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (East) circles, where it failed to obtain the 3G spectrum. Similarly, Vodafone Essar may be impacted in the Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (West) circles where it will not be able to offer 3G services. Industry experts also say that the launch of MNP is likely to result in higher roaming rate agreements between major operators in an attempt to retain their high-end users.
