As many as 35,3416 mobile phone subscribers have migrated to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) from private operators as per mobile number portability (MNP) statistics in Kerala.
Kannur tops with 10, 9379 connections. MNP allows users to switch operators while retaining their mobile numbers. A private service provider which stood just behind BSNL had only 1.5 lakh subscribers, sources said.
“Till July 14 , 46, 3661 subscribers moved over to BSNL, while 11, 0245 connections were ported out,” says BSNL general manager A.S. Sukumaran. Kannur was followed by Ernakulam and Kottayam where 93,865 and 37,964 subscribers respectively, opted for the change. Alappuzha had the least with just 13,283 subscribers opting for the facility.
BSNL Kerala currently has over 70 lakh mobile phone subscribers.
“Though our staff had reservations when the programme was launched, the extent of subscribers opting for BSNL has made things look different now,” he said adding that coverage was also a vital factor.
MNP was implemented across the state on January 20, 2011 while the countrywide pilot launch of the service took place in Haryana in November 2010. To opt for MNP, a customer has to pay a maximum of Rs 19 to the new operator for ‘porting’ the number and remain with the new operator for at least three months.
The customer has to send an SMS from the existing phone to 1900. A unique porting code is sent by the existing provider. An application has then to be filled with the new service provider mentioning the code for transferring the connection.