Issuing a public notice on June 10, NTA had asked interested organizations to prepare regulatory framework for MNP service based on a Terms of Reference (ToR) published on its website. Responding to the notice, SanMax Private Limited and MaxTech Private Limited have submitted applications, according to NTA officials.Achyutananda Mishra, spokesperson of NTA, a committee will now evaluate the technical and financial proposals submitted by the two firms and take decision accordingly. "The committee will take around 10 days to study their proposals. We will decide what to do next on the basis of the recommendations made by the committee," said Mishra.
Once NTA starts MNP service, customers can retain their mobile numbers even if they choose to switch operators. At present, they cannot retain their numbers if they have to switch operators.
"As new mobile operators are coming up, we are working to introduce MNP system so that customers have alternatives. They should be allowed to switch operators without having to change their number," Digambar Jha, chairman of NTA, said.
Introduction of MNP service will make it easier for NTA to manage numbering system. United Telecom Limited and Smart Telecom are working to launch GSM service. They have already applied for unified license. Once MNP service is introduced, customers can easily switch operators without changing their numbers.
The government had asked NTA to introduce MNP system in 2010. As per the direction, NTA had commissioned a study in 2011. The study had suggested NTA to introduce MNP service only after telephone penetration reaches 60 percent. According to the latest Management Information system (MIS) report of NTA, country's telephone penetration stands at 99.8 percent.
The study of 2011 had also suggested NTA to change existing telecom numbering plan by replacing the zonal numbering plan with national numbering plan before implementing the MNP service.
"We had planned to issue directive for that in this fiscal year. But the plan could not be materialized as we did not get consultant," Mishra said, adding, "Introduction of MNP service is getting delayed, as there is lack of experts regarding MNP in the country."
Once the MNP is introduced, telecom service providers will be forced to improve quality of service to keep hold of their existing customers" "As customers can easily change the service provider without having to change their number, the competition among telcos will increase automatically and this will lead to improvement in service qualit"," added Mishra.
In South Asia, MNP system has been implemented in countries like India and Pakistan where there are many telecom service providers.
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