The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued the draft sixth amendment of the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Regulation, 2009 for consultation. TRAI has proposed the implementation of full mobile number portability (MNP) by processing the porting request by the recipient operator through the MNP service provider of the zone to which the number belongs.

Further, TRAI has suggested that the mobile number, in case of disconnection in the recipient operator’s network, be returned to the number range operator within 60 days, against the earlier time period of 90 days.

In the new amendment, TRAI has suggested that a new clause be introduced to safeguard the interest of postpaid mobile service users who face disconnection in the new network even after clearing all their dues of the previous service provider. To this end, TRAI has proposed that if the previous operator receives the payment within the notice period of 15 days given by the recipient operator to the subscriber, the previous operator will need to intimate to the recipient operator about the same.

The telecom regulator has also sought the comments of the various stakeholders on whether only the unique porting code and mobile number be used as the verification documents of the ported subscriber and also if there is a need for an undertaking from the subscriber.

TRAI has asked for the comments from the public on the issues raised in the draft amendment by February 6, 2015.

At present, the Department of Telecommunications has issued amendment to the MNP licence agreement and asked the telecom operators to implement full MNP within a period of six months from the date of amendment to the licences, November 3, 2014.