How to Change Your Service/Network Provider - Mobile Number Portability in India

Wanted to change your mobile phone company, but couldn't because you wanted to retain your number. Now to our rescue comes the mobile number portability which was introduced by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). TRAI is the regulating authority which on behalf of the Department of Telecom keeps check of the mobile phone operators in India.

One thing to keep in mind is that the feature only applies to cell phone users and not fixed lines. For example, a number such as 9322xxxxxx with the service operator of Reliance can be changed to a service of Airtel retaining the same number. This feature does not apply as a whole to company, it only applies to mobile phone operators. Like a fixed line from Airtel cannot be changed to a fixed line of say, Reliance.

Mobile number portability is a feature which many countries around the world have. Countries such as Brazil, Denmark, Germany and many others started this facility way back. In India, the process of changing your service operator can take up to 7 days (more for Northeast states and Jammu Kashmir, as much as 15 days). On the other hand many developed and not so developed countries make this process within few hours. We can avail this service by paying Rs 19 while our counterparts from around the world can avail this service free of charge.

Reasons for Changing Your Operator

• You may like to switch from post-paid to pre-paid.
• You may want to switch from CDMA to GSM. This is the reason why I changed my number. I was awaiting MNP from so many days. The handsets which the GSM has on offer are vast. You have so many to choose from, Nokias, Samsungs and not to forget those fancy out-of-this-world Chinese made cell phones.
• You feel that your service provider does not have proper network coverage.
• Your operator does not have usage plans that suits you.
• Also, the recent Supreme court judgement which cancelled licenses of operators such as Uninor, Videocon can be a reason for you to change your provider while retaining your number. If this concerns you then you should take steps to retain your number. The supreme court has given a total of 40 days to the government from its judgement to cancel all the licenses and re-allocate the spectrum. There can also be chances that your provider's license got cancelled and they got it re-issued when the government re-allocates it. So, you never know if the judgement will affect you. Consider your choices smartly.

There can be many different reasons that may concern you and finally, you have decided to change your operator. But there are few important points to remember if you are going ahead and changing your number.

Important Points to Keep in Mind

• You cannot change your service circle. For example, a number from Mumbai circle cannot change its service area and move out to say, Delhi.
• If you recently bought a new number then the number cannot be changed within 90 days. Also if you availed the feature of MNP and further want to change your number to another different operator. Then there has to be a gap of 90 days. Any which way there has to be a gap of 90 days before you can once again apply for MNP.
• If you like you can also retain the technology that you are using. For example, present CDMA to new CDMA operator or present pre-paid to new pre-paid operator.
• If you are a prepaid customer, then use all the balance before applying for mobile number portability. This is because all the balance becomes unusable once you change your service provider.
• If you are thinking that you can change your service provider even if you have existing dues. Then, think again because your application to do so will get rejected.
• As I said, one has to pay Rs. 19 to avail this facility. Not a hefty amount though.
• The process should take at the maximum 7 days. TRAI has made it mandatory for operators to make the process hassle-free for customers. One such thing is that your number will only dead for about 2 hours, that too, at the night time.
• Always give thorough considerations and then decide to avail this facility. Wrong choices will further aggravate your problem.

One trick that I would like to give here, if you are not satisfied with your present operator. Then call-up the customer service number and tell the representative that you will change the operator and cite your problems. This may work, may not work. Just give it a try, you waited so much time, wait some more time and see if it works.

If you have made your mind to change your present operator to any other operator then follow this steps.

How to change your Mobile Phone Operator

TRAI has made the process of changing your operator fairly very simple. As a customer, you just have to take a few steps to change your service provider.

Step 1) Send an SMS to 1900 in following format: PORT followed by your number - eg. PORT 9322xxxxxx.

Step 2) You will get a SMS reply that contains a unique porting code (UPC). UPC will be valid only for few days. UPC is an 8-digit alpha-numeric code. If you lost track then send another SMS to get your new UPC. The expiry date of the UPC will also be mentioned.

Step 3) Visit the nearest service center of the new operator for which you are applying.

Step 4) Fill the required form and submit your documents.

Step 5) You will get a new SIM card. Just follow the instructions given by your operator.