India to launch MNP by May: A Raja

BANGALORE, INDIA: Confirming that the much-awaited Mobile Number Portability (MNP) will miss yet another deadline, Information Technology and Communications Minister A Raja on Friday said that the government is planning to launch MNP by the first week of May.

While speaking during the launch of third-generation (3G) mobile services by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) in Bangalore today, the minister also said MNP will be launched initially in the southern cities of Bangalore and Chennai and then extended to all other cities of the country.

The service allows users to switch mobile-services providers without having to change their phone numbers.

Actually, the MNP service implementation was delayed a couple of times, ever since we have started hearing about it some three years back. After much of a wait, it was earlier scheduled to be launched by December 31, 2009, but was then postponed to March 31 this year. The reason cited was a delay in importing some machinery required for the service.

3G auction

Asked about when are the private telecom players going to get the 3G spectrum, the Minister declined to commit any date. “Some ministers are looking into the matter. I cannot commit a date as of now,” he said.

However, he expressed confidence that the 3G auction issue would be resolved in a week. 

The Finance Ministry had early this week paved way for the auction of 3G licences in each telecom circle across the country by private players after the defence ministry agreed to part with a portion (5 MHz) of spectrum or air waves for high-speed data services from September.

The central government is keen on holding the auction before this fiscal (2009-10) ended so that it could raise an estimated Rs.25,000-30,000 crore (Rs.250-300 billion/$5.5-6.5 billion) and soften the mounting fiscal deficit.

Though the auctioning will be conducted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the timing and the number of players to be allowed (two or three) in each circle will be decided by the Finance Ministry in consultation with the law ministry as it has financial and legal implications.

(With inputs from IANS)