Mobile Number Portability Bidders Named by March-5

The most awaited Mobile Number Portability (MNP) finally comes to India.Feb-27 Depart Department of Telecommunications said that the names of the successful bidders for this project will be announced in the first week of March this year. IT and communication minister Mr.A.Raja said “MNP service licenses will be announced by March 5, 2009. They will also be issued letters of intent (LoI) by this date.”

The chosen agencies will act as a clearing house to allow mobile users to seamlessly change their operator without changing their number.

In its guidelines, the DoT had divided the country into two circles comprising 11 circles each for which one MNP operator each would be selected.

The government, which has received flak for delaying the number portability process, today said that is no delay in implementation of number portability.

In the first phase, the Mobile Number Portability is expected to be implemented in all metros and Category ‘A’ service areas within six months of the award of the licence, In the next phase other parts of the counter also will get this facility within one yearof the award of the license.

The tender for the tender was floated on November 25 last year subsequent to which few names were short listed and the selection of the agencies will take place next week.