Mobile Number Portability

This is my experience with Mobile Number portability. This facility has been started since January 2011 in India by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. If you are facing issues with your existing service provider, I would suggest to go for MNP. It is pretty straight forward process and wont tale more than 8-10 days.

Hi All,

I've recently ported my mobile operator from Idea to Vodafone. The Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is a very good initiative started by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India).

Let me make clear that I've opted for this because of good postpaid tariff plans by Vodafone (And not because of service issues). I know that services of both the operators are good (As I was using Idea for more than 3 years and some of my friends are using Vodafone for 2-3 years).

The process is pretty simple. I followed following steps:
1. Send a SMS 'PORT 99XXXXXXXX' to 1900
2. In reply to this SMS, a UPC (Unique Porting Code) will be received
3. Give this UPC to the operator to which the mobile is to be ported (In my case, it was Vodafone) and fill the form.
4. I needed to submit the last bill payment receipt to my previous operator i.e. Idea
5. Address and Identity proofs

Once these formalities were done, I got the SIM card from Vodafone. I also got an SMS from Idea about the initiation of the process. I also got a verification call. Basically Idea, wanted to know the reason for shifting to Vodafone. After this, they forwarded my request to next level.

On the 7th day from submitting the MNP request, the process was completed. Then I put the Vodafone SIM in my handset and the Vodafone service was started.

Had this MNP not available, I would have had to circulate the new number to all my contacts. But thanks to MNP, no need to circulate the number to anybody. My contacts were not even aware that I shifted to Vodafone (They only came to know this when my cell is not reachable and they heard the automated response from Vodafone)!

Thanks!