Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has acted in tune with service-providers by once again postponing implementation of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) beyond 31.12.2009. It is now evident that the postponement on the aspect again and again for last several years, is done to allow service-providers to continue minting money. Decision smells foul with all doubts of corrupt-deals where different excuses are given at each time of postponing the implementation. Attitude of both DoT and TRAI in benefit of service-providers needs scanning.
When date to implement MNP was extended from 20.05.2009, the excuse given was that Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) failed to announce new tariff-plans. But now when MNP is further postponed beyond 31.12.2009, new excuse is that service-providers are not equipped for the change! And they will never be equipped to affect MNP till Union government acts tough for auto-transfer of subscribers of the failing service-provider/s to another service-provider selected by inviting tenders.
Service-providers lure new customers by offering many new facilities and economical tariffs, while old subscribers are made to continue with old higher tariffs and less facilities. MNP can only relieve old subscribers by having option to switch to other service-provider without change in their mobile-numbers. Considering dominating role of private sector on all aspects of public-life including telecommunication, RTI Act should be extended to private sector.
MADHU AGRAWAL
(Guinness Record Holder for letters in Newspapers)
1775 Kucha Lattushah
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E-mail subhashmadhu@sify.com
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