Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has now reduced the time needed for Mobile Number Portability (MNP) to 2 days from the previous 7 days. In a new rule by TRAI, now the total time needed for the MNP procedure is only two, which will now reduce the customer’s waiting time.
As per the new rule, all the telecom operators, including BSNL, Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea, etc. will now follow the new procedure. Earlier, one who wishes to port their number to a new operator has to wait up to 5 to 7 days to complete all the processes and switch to the new network. Now, the switching process shortened to just 2 days.
Procedure for MNP as per new Rule
As before, anyone who wishes to port their number to a new operator has to send an SMS from their number. This is the first step to start the MNP process. To do so, type ‘PORT <10 digit mobile number>’ and send that to 1900.
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After sending the message, the Mobile Number Portability Service Provider (MNPSP) will check your details in real-time with your current operator. They will look for any dues or any other pending payments on your number (for postpaid). If everything was fine and then you’re good to go. The MNPSP will provide you with a UPC (Unified Porting Code) (Note: If you are not eligible for port out, MNPSP will not provide you UPC code). The UPC has a validity of 4 days. Therefore, you have to approach the new operator within 4 days.
After getting the UPC code, you can go to the Customer Service Center of the new operator (the one you wish to port in) and show them the UPC code and provide your number, which is to be ported. Then, take the necessary documents needed for the connection and provide you with the new SIM card.
Porting will be done in 2 days. After two days, your old SIM card will get disconnected, and your number will be activated on the new SIM card with the new operator. Before switching your connection to the new SIM card, you will get an SMS from the new operator regarding the switching time. Also, note that the validity of the UPC also now reduced. The validity is now only 4 days. Previously it has a validity of 15 days.
Old Procedure for the MNP
The initial process is the same, and the customer has to send an SMS to 1900 for the UPC code. After few minutes, MNPSP will provide the user with the UPC. But the difference here is that the UPC code generation was not in real-time. Anyone sending SMS will get the UPC code on their mobile number whether eligible or not. Everyone will get the UPC code. This UPC has a validity of 15 days. During this time, the customer can approach the new operator to port the number.
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Next, the customer needs to submit the documents, number, and UPC to the new operator. Then all the processes will take place in 7 days. Finally, if the customer is eligible for their, his/there will be transferred to the new operator in 5 to 7 days.
Why TRAI introduced the new Procedure
TRAI introduced the new procedure to make all the processes easier for the customers. In the earlier method, customers have to wait for 5 to 7 days after submitting the UPC code with the new operator. After that, the request will be transferred to the old (existing) operator to check whether any dues are left for the customer. If everything is ok, then the existing operator will give an OK notification to the new operator, and then the switching will occur.
The problem that exists here is that, in most cases, the existing operator will reject the port request without any reason. They don’t want any customer to leave their network. So after waiting for 5 to 7 days, customers get a message saying the current operator has rejected their port request.
This case will now be resolved by the new method, as the MNPSP check for the dues in real-time with the current operator. An only eligible people will get the UPC. So after submitting the UPC and another document to the new operator, normally, there will be no reason to get the request rejected. Finally, all the processes will be completed in 2 days.
Note: The porting time of two days is only for the port request made within the same circle, and if you wish to port your number to other circles, it will take 4 days (still faster than earlier).
