KumaarShah 143 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 (edited) TRAI asks DoT to amend National Numbering Plan for implementing mobile number portability 16 Feb, 2008, 0347 hrs IST,Joji Thomas Philip, TNN NEW DELHI: Upset by the inactivity of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on the mobile number portability (MNP) front, telecom regulator TRAI has asked the government to get cracking. MNP allows mobile users to change service providers, but retain their numbers. TRAI wants DoT to quickly amend the national mumbering plan (NNP) so that the regulator can put in place guidelines to kick off number portability in metros. While the government cleared number portability late last year, TRAI has pointed out that DoT is yet to amend the national mumbering plan which is key to its successful implementation. As per the original schedule, number portability is to be implemented in the four metros by the second half of 2008. NNP, which is currently unique to each operator, needs a slew of modifications before the introduction of number portability. These technical modifications will ensure that mobile mumbers becomes independent of the operator. This will then enable the new service provider (to whom the subscriber has switched) to use those numbers which were originally assigned to another operator. At present, all mobile numbers have three components - access code, mobile switching centre code and a subscriber number. These components are based on NNP and are assigned to each operator based on their demand as well as their area of operation. It is these that can allow us to identify the operator and the location (say Delhi) by just looking at the mobile number. In the case of number portability, the subscriber (while retaining his number) moves to a new operator, who has a different national numbering plan. Therefore, unless the DoT brings about the requisite amendments to NNP, it will not be possible to identify the recipient network (the network or service provider to which the subscriber has switched to). For mobile number portability to work, TRAI will also have to allot unique operator codes, which will be prefixed to all ported numbers, so that the mobile numbers can be used by all service providers. The catch is that the regulator cannot undertake this process unless the DoT amends the national numbering plan. Besides, TRAI wants DoT to address this issue even as it undertakes other steps like identifying a neutral third party who shall establish and run the centralised and regional data bases which contain the ported numbers. Additionally, only after the DoT amends the national numbering plan can the regulator address other issues including the creation of database, interfaces, performance parameters, service levels, all of which needs to be resolved before number portability can be implemented. TRAI has already set up a steering committee consisting of operators, industry associations to workout the finer details of these implementation issues. Link: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/TRAI_a...how/2786939.cms Edited February 16, 2008 by KumaarShah Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Honest 836 Report post Posted February 16, 2008 ^^^ Thats a very very very very great news my dear friends. Lets hope that Dot should amend the national numbering plan as soon as possible so that we all can take the benefit of number portability service. This is a much awaited service. This should be started at the earliest. Regards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
santhoshavanoor 7 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Really very good news to hear and a good move from TRAI. I'm eagerly waiting for this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
