Aug 23rd is the deadline for suggesting recommendations on TRAI’s Mobile Number Portability Regulations Draft

Recently, on 16th August 2019, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had issued a notice seeking recommendations for the Draft on ‘Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Per Port Transaction Charge and Dipping Charge (Amendment) Regulations, 2019’.

TRAI had earlier notified ‘Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Per Port Transaction Charge and Dipping Charge Regulations, 2009 (9 of 2009)’ on 20th November 2009. As per the principal regulation, TRAI fixed Rs. 19/- as 'Per Port Transaction Charge' and through -notification of the Telecommunication Tariff Order (Forty-Ninth Amendment) Order, 2009 dated 20th November 2009, the Authority prescribed the Per Port Transaction charge Rs. 19/- as the ceiling.

The Authority revised the MNP process by issuing the "Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability (Seventh Amendment) Regulations, 2018 on 13th December 2018 (7th Amendment) following a detailed public consultation.

Subsequently, the Authority initiated a public consultation process for review of the per port transaction charge and other related charges for mobile number portability by issuing a consultation process on 22nd February 2019 (subsequently updated on 1st April 2019), inviting written comments on the issues raised in the consultation from stakeholders.

An Open House Discussion in this regard was also held on 27th May 2019. Pursuant to this, MNPSPs and TSPs have submitted additional information.

Based on the comments and counter comments received during the consultation process, the deliberations of open house discussion and comments received afterward from MNPSPs and other stakeholders, the Authority has today issued draft "Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Per Port Transaction Charge and Dipping Charge (Amendment) Regulations) 201 g'.

The draft regulations, 2019 is available for comments of stakeholders on TRAI's website www.trai.gov.in. Written comments on the draft regulations, 2019 are invited from the stakeholders by 23rd August 2019. As abundant opportunity has already been given to the stakeholders to provide inputs since the issue of Consultation Paper on 22nd February 2019, this may be treated as the final opportunity to give inputs, before finalization of the current consultation exercise. TRAI is seeking comments, preferably, in electronic form, at fa@trai.gov.in.

Source & Credit:  TRAI