Telecom officials, firms in huddle over MNP
NEW DELHI, Feb. 5: The telecom department is likely to hold a meeting with the telecom operators on the implementation of mobile number portability (MNP) next week, according to well-placed sources.
There have been reports that some telecom operators are not ready to implement MNP by March 31. however, the date for implementation of the service could be pushed further.
"The telecom minister, secretary, and Trai chairman are keen to implement MNP by March 31, despite reservations from certain telecom operators," said the source.
"It is difficult to say whether all the operators will be able to upgrade their systems by March 31, but the information I have is that they will be ready," said Mr T.R. Dua, the officiating director general of COAI.
The CDMA operators association AUPSI, secretary general, Mr S.C Khanna, said their members (Reliance and Tata among others) are ready to implement MNP by March 31.
In fact, Mr Khanna in a letter to telecom secretary has alleged that there is a deliberate attempt by some operators to derail mobile number portability.
"We understand that they are citing the license amendment dated December 3, 2009, which required the security clearance of equipment before placing a purchase order for delay."
The CDMA operators are eager to implement MNP as their two main members Reliance and Tata have ent-ered the GSM space. In India, GSM has a dominant 80 per cent market share.
AGE CORRESPONDENT
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