(a) whether the Government has started Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the salient features;
(c) whether this service will be provided only in Metro cities and in Service Areas of
Category ‘A’ in the country;
(d) if so, the reasons therefore; and
(e) the time by which it will be implemented all over the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI GURUDAS KAMAT)
(a) to (e) Madam, the Government has decided to introduce Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
in the country. MNP allows subscribers to retain their existing telephone number in the same
service area when they switch from one access service provider to another irrespective of
mobile technology or from one technology to another of the same or any other access service
provider. Necessary Licence Agreements for MNP Services have been signed in April 2009. In
the first phase, MNP is likely to be implemented by 31st December 2009 in Metro cities and
Category ‘A’ Service Areas (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu
including Chennai, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Service Areas) and in the rest of the country
thereafter by March 2010.