What is Mobile Number Portability?

Mobile phone subscribers will now be able to retain their numbers anywhere in the country even if they change their service providers as the telecom regulator will facilitate pan-India mobile network portability (MNP) from May 3 next, an official statement said here Wednesday.

Any eligible Pre-Paid and Post-Paid (GSM / CDMA) mobile users can port. There should no outstanding payments due from the subscriber by way of pending bill or bills, as the case may be, issued as per the normal billing cycle but before the date of application for porting.

You can cancel your port request with your new Mobile Service Provider within 24 hours of making the port request.

The process for porting (moving) a phone number in India has been made as simple as possible. You will have to go to the new Mobile Service Provider’s Service Centre or Authorised Dealer to request for porting of your mobile number. Fill in a Service Registration Form and pay the porting fees for processing. (Presently BSNL is not charging any fees for porting into BSNL.) (ii) The Recipient Operator shall ask the subscriber to send a SMS to Donor Operator to request for UPC (Unique Porting Code) using short code 1900 from the mobile number which is sought to be ported. The customer simply has to send a text message (SMS) that says PORT from their phone to 1900. The existing provider will send the customer a unique porting code, which the customer will share with their new carrier.

The new carrier uses the porting code to check and make sure the customer’s old account is paid in full.

Once that information has been verified, the new provider will send the customer a text message informing the customer exactly when the porting will take place. The maximum time for porting is 7 working days except in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and North East service areas. If the customer is not happy with the new service provider, he can switch again after 90 days.