Number portability may be delayed further

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The much-awaited mobile number portability, which was scheduled to take off on December 31, may not meet its deadline for implementing mobile number portability because telecommunication-service providers haven't completed upgrading their networks.

This was informed by the Minister of State for Communications and IT Gurudas Kamat in Parliament today, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows users to retain their number even if they switch operators, was supposed to be introduced in two phases. While it was to be implemented first in the metro cities and the so-called Category A telecom zones, in other areas, the telecom regulator had said, it would be implemented by March 20.

The minister also said the government would not increase the charges levied annually for bandwidth from companies offering 2G mobile services even after they start providing 3G, according to WSJ.