Everything You Wanted To Know About Mobile Number Portability (In India)

Mobile Number Portability will be rolled out for all around Jan 20th 2011. This means that now anyone can change their mobile service provider and retain their existing number.

There is still some confusion around this process so we will explain key highlights of MNP and the process to port your mobile number to the new operator.

Key Highlights

• Number can be ported from any operator to any operator. It supports GSM to GSM, GSM to CDMA and also CDMA to GSM number portability.
• Can be done for both post-paid and pre-paid numbers/connection.
• For post-paid number portability, there should not be any dues pending with the old operator.
• For pre-paid number portability, carry forward of balance from the old provider to the new provider is not permitted.
• This will also be available for SIM cards being used for Internet data connection.
• Most Important: When you port your number, you will have to submit your documents (identity proof, address proof, photographs and other documents as required) to your new service provider.
• You will get a new SIM from the new service provider.
• Entire porting process can take anywhere from 24 hours to 7 working days.
• After porting your number to the new service provider, you must stay with that provider for a minimum of 3 months.
• You will be charged Rs.19 from the new service provider for this.

Process for Mobile Number Portability:

STEP 1: Send a SMS as PORT<space><your mobile number> to 1900 from your mobile.

STEP 2: You will receive an eight-digit alphanumeric code and an expiry date for that code from you existing service provider. This code is called Unique Porting Code, or UPC.

STEP 3: Now you need to visit/call/ contact your new service provider with this Unique Porting Code (UPC), your mobile number and documents for address proof, identity proof, photograph (and other documents as required). Do this before the expiry date and time of the UPC.

STEP 4: Now your new service provider will take your request to the mobile portability clearing house which will ensure that you number gets deactivated from the existing provider and gets activated with the new provider. For this to happen your existing provider will have to give approval to the new provider / clearing house. Approval will be given if there are no dues pending with the existing service provider.

STEP 5: Once everything is clear, you will get an SMS from new service provider with the date and time of the number porting.

STEP 6: When the actual porting happens, your mobile will be in a no-service period which will be of couple of hours (your phone will be dead in these no-service hours). As per mandate these no-service hours will be from 12 AM (midnight) to 5 am. Also it is mandated that one you get a SMS from the new service provider, your number should be ported within 4 days. You will have to use your new SIM from your new service provider after the no-service hours.

STEP 7: That’s it! Simple!

This is a guest post by Sulakshan who is running a price comparison engine for books and mobile phones – MySmartPrice.com. Mobile Pricelists in MySmartPrice are most up to date, as the prices are refreshed every 48 hours from across 6 online stores in India. If you wish to write for HBB, kindly check this.