The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) did not like the change in the norms of mobile number portability (MNP). MNP would allow customers to retain the same number even after changing the network service provider. 

According to one clause of MNP norms, a customer can shift from the GSM to CDMA or vice-versa within the same service provider without going through any central agency. 

COAI has opposed the rule and said that the ministry of telecommunication has inserted this clause for the advantage of one large CDMA operator. The body said that it is not against the intra operator porting but the DoT should not favor any party. Meanwhile TATA communication has also supported the GSM players on the issue. 

As per the original guidelines, there must be two independent centralized bodies for dealing with cases of number portability. These bodies were supposed to form Mobile Number Portability Clearing House Administrator (MCHAs). 

These bodies would also set up the Number Portability Database (NPDB) which would contain information of all mobile users. All service providers were required to link their networks to the MCHAs and NPDB.

The body alleged that the present norms would encourage manipulation of subscriber number to get additional spectrum. Some service providers can also show same customers on GSM and CDMA network which would lead to revenue losses to DoT.