TRAI and DoT views differ on Mobile Number portability (India)
Another occasion where policy makers views clashed. TRAI has questioned DoT’s decision to divide the whole country in two zones instead of one as recommended by the telecom regulator for mobile number portability facility.
According to a letter sent by TRAI, The guidelines envisage two number portability zones. You would kindly recall that the Authority had recommended a single zone having one country operator for licence of MNP clearing house and number portability database and this was also accepted by the DoT.
Mobile number portability will provide customers the facility to have option of switching operators without changing numbers. Communication and IT Minister A Raja had said that the service would first start in the four metros by the end of this year and in rest of the country over the next 6-12 months.
According to the guidelines announced on August 1, the whole country will be divided into two MNP zones consisting 11 service areas with two metros in each zone. TRAI Chairman had also objected to DoTs decision to issue new licences to successful bidders in 3G spectrum auction saying that for such a decision TRAI’s prior recommendation was a must. TRAI pointed out that it seems the decision to have only one operator was reviewed in the Standing Committee on MNP in DoT, which also has a representative from TRAI. TRAI said that the representative from the TRAI during these meetings had drawn the attention of the Standing Committee to the technical, financial and regulatory arguments in favour of retaining a single licence for the entire country.
