TRAI sets mobile portability charge at Rs19

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has fixed the per port (operator to operator) transaction charge to be paid by the mobile phone subscriber at Rs19 and has set 31 December 2009 as the implementation date for mobile number portability.

TRAI has, however, left the dipping charge to mutual negotiation between the telecom service providers and the respective MNP service providers.

Dipping charge is the charge payable by an access provider or an international long distance operator, to the mobile number portability service provider for dipping of each message.

"The porting charge, ie, the amount to be paid by the subscriber shall not be more than the per port transaction charge, ie, Rs19, TRAI said in a release, adding, "The operators are free to charge any amount less than or equal to this charge."

Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows users to retain their number even if they switch operators, will be introduced in two phases, the telecoms regulator said.

MNP will be introduced first in the metro cities and Category A telecom zones by 31 December 2009 and in other areas by 20 March 2010.