NEW DELHI, INDIA: The much-awaited launch of mobile number portability (MNP) will be delayed further and the service will be operational from October 31, 2010 only, as some of the telecom operators are not yet ready with the infrastructure for the service.

The launch of the service, which allows mobile phone users to switch operators without changing the number, has been postponed many times due to one reason or the other. The authorities had earlier told that MNP would come to effect on June 30. However, last month, MTNL chairman and managing director Kuldip Singh had said that MNP would become a reality before September 30. However, a DoT official told CIOL that the date will be extended to October 31 and an announcement in this regard will come today.

Sources said the telecom players are not yet ready with the MNP gateways. Interestingly, MTNL has not even ordered for the gateways, while BSNL has not set up the gateways.