Telcos may be penalized for not rolling out full MNP even after May 3

NEW DELHI: Teleocm operators will be subject to action in case they miss the deadline of May 3 to roll out full mobile number portability, Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg said.

"We have given them (telecom operators) sufficient time of six months. This is not the first time MNP is starting in the country. We are only extending to pan-India. If they miss deadline then whatever action is there under law will take its own course," Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg told a publication.

His comments come on the back of COAI, the GSM lobby group, mentioning mobile operators’ inability to roll out services on account of technical and coordination issues due to delay in notifying rule of full MNP by telecom regulator.

MNP will help users to retain their mobile numbers even if they migrate to any part of the country.

The full MNP will allow subscribers to retain their mobile number in any part of the country even they change their operator or shift from one city to another.

At present, mobile number portability (MNP) allows subscribers to change mobile network while retaining their number in same telecom circles.

Commenting on COAI’s request to form a committee that can coordinate between private telecom players and public sector companies BSNL and MTNL for conducting networks tests, Garg said that there is no need of any separate committee in this regard.

"Today cabinet secretary took meeting on the subject and after review it was decided to extend pre-paid mobile service in J&K and North for period of next two years," Garg said.

The pre-paid services in J&K and North East states are reviewed periodically due to security reasons.