Cell number portability at Rs 200?

Just days prior to his term coming to an end, TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal on Wednesday recommended on one of the most crucial issues of number portability on mobile phones saying the facility can be made available for a one-time payment of Rs 200.

Number portability will allow customers to switch operator while retaining the old number.

According to TRAI the number portability should be implemented from April 1, 2007 for customers, and asked department of telecom to make suitable changes in the license enabling TRAI to issue guidelines in this regard.

The regulator says the cost of Rs 200 payable by the customers will enable the operator to recover his investment cost in 3-5 years.

Further, it has also recommended that initially Mobile Number Portability be introduced within the service area only.

The authority has come to the conclusion that this is not the appropriate time for introducing Fixed Number Portability.

Releasing the recommendations on mobile number portability, TRAI said Mobile Number Portability benefits subscribers, encourages improvement in quality of service through increased level of competition between service providers, rewarding those operators having better customer service, network coverage, and service quality.

"Considering the present status of telecom services in India, TRAI considers it an appropriate time to initiate process for implementing MNP so as to increase customer convenience, quality of service and further enhance competition among service providers in the mobile sector, it said.

Do you want to discuss stock tips? Do you know a hot one? Join the Stock Market Discussion Group.