Mobile Number Portability Become Faster, Will Take Just Two Days

porting process is easier it will take just two days

Trai has made it easier, and faster, to switch phone number from one telecom operator to another. So, if you are planning to switch from Airtel to Jio, or vice-versa, without giving up your existing number, it will take no more than two days to get on to another network.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued seventh amendment to the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) regulations, citing a major shift in the mechanism for generating Unique Porting Code (UPC).

Right now, after you send the request to port your number through SMS, a Unique Porting Code (UPC) is generated. You need to apply to the operator you need to switch to within a stipulated period of time.

Then, new operator takes permission from the old operator and communicates this to MNP Service Provider (MNPSP, that serves as link between your old and new operator). Then old operator withdraws services, passes the message to MNPSP. The new operator can now claim the number and activate services on the new number.

This process usually takes about 7 working days, the time before you get the new activated SIM.

According to the release, 'in the revised process for validation of conditions and generation & delivery of the unique porting code, it has been provisioned to establish a query response mechanism to enable the Mobile Number Portability Service Provider (MNPSP) to query the database of the Donor Operator on real time basis to obtain the response for the queries. Based on the result of queries made by MNPSP and fulfilment of other prescribed conditions, the allocation and delivery of UPC shall be ensured by MNPSP.'

TRAI new rules for MNP

This means the MNSP has been given the job to obtain the number from the old operator, through a way in which it can access its database of telecos real time to know what all numbers need to be ported and be ready to assign the number to the new operator.

TRAI claims with the new process in place, it would take no more than 2 days for the porting process to take place in the same network circle (intra- Licensed Service Area).

Though, the validity of the UPC has also been reduced to 4 days, from earlier 15 days for all circles, except for Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and North East.

TRAI says it will implemented appropriate Quality of Service (QoS) parameters, devised by the Authority to monitor the role of MNPSPs and Access Providers in the new scenario. It has also broadened the 'Financial Disincentives' in case the regulations are flouted in any manner by the MNSPs.

The process for withdrawal of porting requests has been made simpler and quicker through SMS.

For corporate connections and porting request outside the native circle (inter- Licensed Service Area), the timeline for porting is 4 days, but it is still faster. Also, limit for numbers to be ported in single authorization letter has been increased from 50 to 100.