Mobile Number Portability

• What is Mobile Number Portability (MNP) ?
• Mobile Number Portability service allows mobile phone users to switch their service provider or mobile phone operator without changing their existing number. This means mobile phone users can retain their existing number while switching from one network to another.

• How to avail Mobile Number Portability or how to switch from one network to another ?
• Following is the procedure to switch to a new network ;

1. Contact the new mobile service provider to whom you want to port your mobile number.
2. Obtain Customer Acquisition Form (CAF) & Porting Form.
3. Read the eligibility, probable reasons for porting rejection and other conditions carefully.
4. If eligible, fill up the CAF and Porting Form. For filling up of porting form you need a ‘Unique Porting Code’ (UPC).
5. To obtain UPC send SMS from the mobile number you want to port to the number ‘1900’ with text ‘PORT’ followed by space followed by your 10 digit mobile number you want to port. [ As pre-paid SMS is not permitted, in Jammu & Kashmir the subscriber has to dial ‘1900’ to get an UPC, the operator at ‘1900’ provide the UPC after verifying subscriber number with CLI. ]
6. It may be noted that you will receive an auto generated 8 digits UPC from the Donor operator. The first two characters of the UPC consists of ‘Alphabets’ and remaining 6 digits will be numerical characters except zero. [Please note that the Unique Porting Code is valid for a period of 15 days or till that time the switching to new network takes place, whichever is earlier for all service areas excluding Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and North East, where UPC is valid for a period of 30 days or till that time the switching to new network takes place, whichever is earlier].
7. Submit the duly filled Porting Form and CAF along with requisite documentary proof to the mobile service provider.
8. If you are a post paid subscriber, submit a paid copy of the last bill issued along with Porting Form and CAF.
9. Obtain new SIM card from the new service provider.
10. Service provider may charge porting charge maximum upto Rs. 19/-

• Points to remember before switching from one network to another.

REGARDING ACTIVATION

1. One can withdraw his / her porting request within 24 hrs of applying. However, the porting charge is non-refundable.
2. New mobile service provider will intimate the date & time of porting on your mobile phone.
3. Change over takes place on the 7th working day (15th working day in case of Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and North East service areas).
4. During porting process, the phone will remain out of service. The service disruption time shall be around 2 hrs during night time of the date/time of porting.
5. Replace the old SIM with the new SIM provided by your new mobile service provider after the specified date and time.

ELIGIBILITY & OTHER CONDITIONS [IMPORTANT]

1. You are allowed to move to another mobile service provider only after 90 days of the date of activation of your mobile connection or from the date of last porting of your mobile number, which ever is applicable.
2. You are allowed to change mobile service provider within the same service area only. This means the user cannot take his/her Delhi mobile number to Punjab. A subscriber from Delhi can change his/her service provider within Delhi service area.
3. If you are a postpaid subscriber, please ensure that you have paid all the dues as per your last bill (You will have to sign an undertaking in the Porting Form also).
4. If you are a Pre-paid subscriber, please note that the balance amount of talk time, if any, at the time of porting will lapse.
5. A CDMA user can change to GSM or vice versa.

Also see Vehicle Number Portabiltiy

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Unique Porting Code

• Unique Porting Code is an eight character alphanumeric code provided by the mobile phone service provider on the request of subscriber. This code is essential for switching from one network to another (porting process).
• The Unique Porting Code is valid for a period of 15 days or till that time the switching to new network takes place, whichever is earlier for all service areas excluding Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and North East, where UPC is valid for a period of 30 days or till that time the switching to new network takes place, whichever is earlier.
• The first two characters of UPC are alphabets, which represent the service provider code & service area code (for example; TD for TATA Teleservices Ltd. in Delhi service area). The remaining six characters may contain 1 to 9, A to N & P to Z and small letters and the alphabet 'O' are not allowed.
• To obtain UPC send SMS from the mobile number you want to port to the number ‘1900’ with text ‘PORT’ followed by space followed by your 10 digit mobile number you want to port. [ As pre-paid SMS is not permitted, in Jammu & Kashmir the subscriber has to dial ‘1900’ to get an UPC, the operator at ‘1900’ provide the UPC after verifying subscriber number with CLI. ]

Source ; TRAI