Mobile Number Portability Off to a Flying Start in India
India’s telecom regulator Tuesday said about 1.71 million cell phone users opted to change their service provider through the newly launched mobile number portability service as of Feb. 5.
Analysts fear the service could further intensify competition and drag prices even lower. Mobile number portability, or MNP, lets cell phone users change their service provider while retaining their number. The service was introduced in the northern Indian state of Haryana on Nov. 25 and was extended across the country from Jan. 20.
India is the largest and second-fastest-growing telecom market in the world, with about 730 million wireless users. The launch of MNP in the country is likely to prompt operators to further reduce call tariffs–already among the lowest in the world–to gain users from rivals or retain existing ones, experts say. This is likely to spur consolidation in the industry as new players–already reeling under the effects of low prices– struggle to survive after MNP, they add.