The government would launch the much-awaited mobile number portability (MNP) by the first week of May, starting from Chennai and Bangalore, said Communication and Information Technology Minister A Raja today. “By May first week, the number portability will be introduced in Chennai and Bangalore,” Raja said, during the launch of 3G services here by state-owned BSNL. The MNP, which would allow users to switch service providers without changing phone numbers, was earlier scheduled to be introduced in March this year. However, it got delayed as the government was unable to get security clearance for the devices which were imported from other countries. On the tussle over 3G spectrum issue, the minister said the department was waiting for the advice of the finance and law ministries to clear the deck. “I hope everything will be resolved this week. The Centre is committed to introducing this technology as early as possible,” he added. Raja said the number of new mobile subscriber additions had gone up phenomenally in the last three years. In December 2009, India added 19 million telecom subscribers, taking the total number of subscribers to 580 million. He said that India would have 600 million subscribers in the next two months.For further: www.business-standard.com/india/news/number-portability-by-1st-weekmay-raja/386277/
