The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommend ed that number portability be made available to all mobile subscribers from April 1, 2007. According to TRAI, implementing this facility will enhance quality of service by generating more competition. The regulator has asked the government to mandate that all service providers implement this facility within 12 months. It has also proposed that number portability be introduced first within the service area, before extending it across the country, in phases, over six months. Further, TRAI has said that a steering committee consisting of all operators, industry associations and representatives from the Telecom Engineering Centre should be set up under its aegis to work out the details of implementation. Meanwhile, in response to the operators’ concerns regarding increasing network costs, TRAI has estimated that even if the entire cost is transferred to the porting customer, it works out to a one-time payment of around Rs 200, which will enable the operator to recover investment costs in three-five years.
