MNP implementation delayed till March 20

MNP implementation delayed till March 20Those who have been waiting to change their telecom operators by retaining their existing mobile number needs to have patience for more time as the government has extended the deadline to introduce much hyped mobile number portability (MNP) to March 20, 2010.

MNP would be introduces in a one-go throughout the nation instead of first launching it in metros and then to other cities. The services was due to be implemented from December 31 in metros and category A circles and by March 20, 2009 in the remaining parts of the country.

The state run telecom operators BSNL and MTNL had earlier expressed their inability to make the MNP effective in accordance with the government’s December 31 deadline, forcing the Union Ministry of Communications and IT to postpone the deadline.

It have been observed that a lot of needs to be done by the operators to upgrade and augment the networks and establish physical links with MNP operators.

Operators can charge maximum Rs 19 as porting charges from users and the MNP request will be entertained only after 90 days of the date of activation of the mobile connection.