NUMBER PORTABILITY

Number portability is the ability of end-users to retain their telephone numbers when
changing service providers, service types or locations. It’s believed that when fully and
nationally implemented by both wireline and wireless service providers, number
portability will remove one of the most significant switching costs for consumers and will
encourage competition in the telecommunications industry.

Types of Number Portability:

1. Service provider portability: It’s the ability of end users to retain existing
directory numbers (DN) at the same location as they change from one service
provider to another
2. Location portability: Location portability is the ability of users to retain existing
DNs without impairment of quality, reliability, or convenience when moving from
one physical location to another. Location portability allows a given telephone
number to be associated with any network termination device, independent of
location.
3. Service portability: Service portability is the ability of users to retain existing
DNs without impairment of quality, reliability, or convenience when switching
from one service to another provided by the same telecommunications carrier.

Mobile Number Portability

Mobile number portability (MNP) enables mobile telephone users to retain their
mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another.
It gives an advantage to the subscriber to stay with same technology, GSM/CDMA. Also
they can change to CDMA or vice versa. And both post-paid & prepaid subscribers can
use it. It will take seven working days (fifteen days in J&K, North-east) to port a number.
The cost that the subscriber has pay is Rs.19, to be collected by new service provider.
With this facility provided by the telecom operators you cannot change the operator circle
(city). After changing the operator once, a subscriber cannot change the operator for at
least three months.

Steps that should be followed to change your operator:

1. Send an SMS to 1900 in following format: PORT - eg. PORT 9999999999.
2. You will get an SMS reply that contains a unique porting code.
3. SMS to the preferred operator quoting the unique code. This code is valid only for
a few days, and one must apply again if it expires.
4. Your existing operator will check with new operator & if there are no dues then
approval will be given for porting.
5. You will get an SMS on the time and date when porting will take place. Rules
mandate that process be completed within 4 days of applying.
6. After porting is complete, wait for an SMS from your new operator confirming
the switch. Your phone may be dead for about 2 hours when the porting takes
place.
By: Mayur Modi (IV yr, ECE)