TRAI: 1.71 mn users opt for MNP

NEW DELHI, INDIA: India's telecoms regulator on Tuesday said about 1.71 million mobile users have opted to switch operators while retaining their numbers by February 5, following the launch of mobile number portability (MNP) in the world's fastest-growing mobile market.

MNP was launched in Haryana on November 25 last year and was expanded to all of India's 22 zones from January 20.

While MNP has increased competition in the crowded 15-player mobile market -- that is also the world's second-biggest after China with 730 million users at end-November -- but has not led to price cuts so far.

A vicious price war had sent call prices tumbling in the second half of 2009, straining carriers' financials. But the market has stabilised with no major price cuts seen in the last several quarters.