Mobile Number Portability (MNP) which was implemented to enable mobile subscribers to retain their numbers and switch their operators but since its inception TRAI has been receiving many complaints where operators have been found to be rejecting subscribers’ requests.
And now TRAI has proposed to levy a heavy penalty on operators if they are found to be unlawfully rejecting these requests.
In an official statement TRAI has said, “The Authority has decided to amend the regulations to incorporate provisions for levying financial disincentives where the contravention is established in rejection of porting requests and also in the timelines specified in regulations.”
TRAI has today proposed to levy penalty of Rs 10,000 in the cases where a contravention of rules is established in rejection of porting request by telecom operators from whose network subscribers want to shift to the network of another operator.
Also TRAI has proposed to implement a penalty of Rs 5,000 in cases where the regulator finds a contravention of regulation in the timelines for acting on the various steps involved in processing of MNP.
TRAI has said that it is open for public comments till August 13 over this amendment in the MNP regulation.