Mobile Number Portability: What you should know!

Today, 20th January 2011.. a landmark day for Indians.

Finally Mobile Number Portability has been made available to masses throughout India (well almost!)

Q1) What does it mean?

Mobile number portability, means the ability for a customers to move/port from one telecom service provider to another while retaining thier existing mobile number.

Q2) How do I do this?

1) Get your Unique Porting Code:

This typically needs you to send a SMS to a number. Some operators would help you in this context by creating a web form for you to give your request.  ‘This code shall be valid only for a period of 15 days from the date of request or such time till the number is ported out. This UPC number is stored for verification of the request, and would be maintained in a central database.

2) Do your paperwork

You need to fill the Mobile Number Porting (MNP) form where basic details like-current mobile number, current operator name and UPC code is to be mentioned. You would also need to submit the validation documents along with the same.

3) Pay your Porting fee

You now need to pay a porting fee and/or the new SIM card fee. This would be minimal, but non refundable. Once this is done  the usual data verification would happen and you would receive porting date and time

4) Are we done yet? – NO!

Once the time is communicated, there comes a period where you wont have service. This is the time window being kept for switching your service. This would however be during the midnight post 12AM to a max of 5AM. Once done, you need to switch the SIM and enjoy the new network!

Q3: Do  we need this?

Ofcourse! Especially if you are stuck with an ‘once good, now sad’ telecom operator! The tarrifs may not be exciting for you to switch, but in my opinion this should not be the only reason for any one to switch. Switch if you face network issues, if you feel your operator cannot cater to your future needs like 3G etc. Switch if you think you need a pan India operator, and switch if you feel you the new service provider can ‘delight you’. Switch if you are plagued with customer service issues, and think the new service provider is better. Switch for your friend and subscribe to group plans! Ensure your friends switch!

Cheers! Go free!

(Limited time offer: Incase you want to switch to vodafone, do contact me on my email address, and I would be happy to help!)

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Do we need MNP?