TRAI reduces Mobile Number Portability charges to Rs 4 only

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has announced to reduce the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) charges to Rs 4 from Rs 19 per port. TRAI said that considering the upsurge in mobile number porting requests with effect from July 3, 2015, and the financial results of both the mobile number portability service providers (MNPSPs), the present ceiling of Rs. 19 is quite high as compared to cost and volumes of transaction involved.

TRAI determined the MNP transaction charge of Rs 19 in November 2009 and was determined based on the estimated financial data and other information submitted by the two MNP service providers. TRAI said, "Considering the financials of both the MNP providers and the upsurge in the volume of porting requests in the past two years, the authority is of the view that the present ceiling of Rs 19 is quite high compared to cost and volumes of transaction involved."

The pan India rollout of MNP resulted in a huge upsurge in the number of porting requests from 64 lakh in 2010-11 to 368 lakh in 2014-15, and 636 lakh in 2016-17. Therefore, TRAI has decided that the upper ceiling for per port transaction charge may be reduced as the costs of operations of MNP service providers have gone down.

The draft regulation, however, does not specifically talk about the ‘porting charge’, which is payable by the subscribers. TRAI has sought public suggestions and views on the matter by December 29.