On 31 January, the telecom regulator TRAI brought down mobile number portability rates by almost 79 per cent to a maximum of Rs 4. It cited lower cost and higher volumes for such transactions. The new charges will come into force from the date of notification in the official gazette.
TRAI release said: "The ceiling of charges leviable from subscriber stands automatically reduced to Rs 4. However, recipient operators are free to charge a lesser amount from the subscriber for Mobile Number Portability."
Till now, the prescribed ceiling for mobile number portability rates was Rs 19, so far.
As a matter of fact, TRAI had started a consultation process to review MNP charges in mid-December, and followed it up with an open house discussion on the issue on January 16.
TRAI said: "After taking into consideration the comments received from stakeholders during consultation process and other relevant facts, the authority has decided that the per port transaction charge may be reduced as the costs of operations of Mobile Number Portability Service Providers (MNPSPs) have substantially gone down and the volume of MNP traffic has increased."
The industry body COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews commented: "Operators have been requesting TRAI to bring down this charge as the MNP transaction have increases manifold since inception of MNP. In several instances, the operators were bearing this cost on behalf of the customers approaching them for port-in. Hence, it will be beneficial for both customers and operators as the cost of porting will be greatly reduced."
Till now, the prescribed ceiling for mobile number portability rates was Rs 19, so far.
As a matter of fact, TRAI had started a consultation process to review MNP charges in mid-December, and followed it up with an open house discussion on the issue on January 16.
TRAI said: "After taking into consideration the comments received from stakeholders during consultation process and other relevant facts, the authority has decided that the per port transaction charge may be reduced as the costs of operations of Mobile Number Portability Service Providers (MNPSPs) have substantially gone down and the volume of MNP traffic has increased."
The industry body COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews commented: "Operators have been requesting TRAI to bring down this charge as the MNP transaction have increases manifold since inception of MNP. In several instances, the operators were bearing this cost on behalf of the customers approaching them for port-in. Hence, it will be beneficial for both customers and operators as the cost of porting will be greatly reduced."
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