Starting today, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has implemented new mobile number portability (MNP) rules. The revised MNP rules include a number of changes so that MNP could be a fast and speedy process. First of all, the overall timeline for porting a mobile number has been reduced to 48 hours from the previous 96 hours.
New MNP Rules
As per MNP rules, a unique porting code (UPC) that is required to port the number, will only be generated after validation of the subscriber’s account. Several conditions are required to meet for being eligible to generate the UPC.
- First, in the case of postpaid connections, the subscriber has to have cleared all dues towards the existing telecom operator as per the normal billing cycle.
- Nest, the user should be an active subscriber on the present operator’s network for at least 90 days.
- Further, there should be no ongoing request for a change of ownership of the mobile number.
- Also, there should not be any pending contractual obligation to be fulfilled by the user as per the exit clause in the subscriber agreement.
If a subscriber meets the above-mentioned eligibility criteria, the UPC should be issued to him/her.
Generating UPC & its validity
In order to generate UPC, you will have to SMS PORT (space) Mobile Number and send it to 1900. You will receive the UPC via SMS from 1901 within 5 minutes of placing the MNP request.
The validity for UPC has also been reduced to 4 days from 15 days before for all areas except Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and North East where it will remain 30 days.
Documents required
Users will need to submit documents for address and identity proof to the new operator to begin the MNP process. Some ID proof documents include Passport, Arms License, Driving License, Voter ID Card, Ration Card with Photo, Aadhaar Card PAN card, etc.
How much time will it take?
TRAI says that porting mobile numbers within the same circle will be done within three working days and for another circle, it will be done within five days. There is no change in the timelines for corporate connections.
In case any payment is overdue with the previous operator, the mobile number will be disconnected from the current operator even after the porting is done. The number can be re-activated only if the payment is done within 60 days.
