'No more MNP for users on network of telcos who lost permits'

Customers of telecom operators whose licences were cancelled by Supreme Court on February 2, 2012 will no longer be able to opt for mobile number portability (MNP).

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued direction to all existing telecom operators to stop accepting porting (transfer) request of mobile numbers that were allocated to telecom companies whose permits to operate stands cancelled as per Supreme Court order.

The regulator said that "all the Mobile Number Portability service providers not to process and all the Unified Access Service Providers (telecom operators).. not to entertain request for porting in respect of mobile telephone numbers belonging to the service providers."

In the direction, TRAI has asked to stop accepting porting request from Tata Teleservices (3 service area), Unitech Wireless , now Uninor (15 service area), Videocon (11 service area), Loop (13 service area), Etisalat (15 service area), S Tel (5 service area) and SSTL (10 service area) where the companies lost their licences.

The TRAI direction comes following Supreme Court order of February 2, 2012 and February 15, 2012 asking telecom operators to close their operations.

The apex court judgement of February 2, 2012 cancelled 122 2G licences but gave them chance to continue operations only if they acquire fresh spectrum through auction.

After completion of November 2012 spectrum auction, the court on February 15, 2013 directed telecom operators who did not participate or could not win spectrum in the auction to close their operations immediately.

A MNP request can be processed only when the number is on a active network.

As per MNP rules, "the licensee (MNP operators) shall in no case provide MNP service to any telecom service provider whose licence is either terminated or suspended or not in operation at any point.".