What is Mobile Number Portability?
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is a service which enables consumers to change their mobile operators without having to change their phone number. In simple words: if a person named Fechyo has got a connection of Sodafone and now wants to go for Heartel, but doesn’t want his number to be changed, then MNP makes it possible.
There are two common systems that can be used for the purpose:
The first system (the most commonly used):
Across the globe, the MNP is implemented in different ways. The European standard stipulates that a customer wishing to switch their phone service providers should contact his/her new service provider. Then, it will be upon the new service to arrange everything. This system is known as Recipient Led Porting. Most of the nations on this planet use this system.
The second system: (lesser used)
There is also another kind of system, which is known as donor led porting. It is implemented in the United Kingdom. As the name suggests, in this kind of system, the customer contacts his/her current service provider, which then arranges the transfer. This system also attaches a code, known as Porting Authorization Code (PAC) to the phone number of the customer, and then provides it to the new service provider.
How is it done?
The first system (more popular):
The most common technique used here is the European one which includes the routing of calls, text messages and other services via the use of a central database of ported numbers. It is commonly abbreviated as CDB. There is also another name for the same system and it is ACQ (All Call Query). Local copies of CDB are available with the operators (service providers) and this data is used to find out which network to send the calls to. This method has been proved to be highly efficient and it can be upscaled easily.
The second system (less used):
There is also a second, lesser used system, which is an alternative to the CDB/ADQ system. This is also known as indirect routing. In this system, the calls are routed via the old service provider. This type is not efficient and less rigid. If the old service provider faces a technical fault, then apart from the current subscribers to the service provider, those numbers which have already switched subscribers stop functioning.
How many MNP enabled countries are there in the world?
There are more than three dozen countries where it is possible to change service providers without changing the cell number. Then there are countries which will become MNP enabled in the next couple of years. India among them is the biggest. The fee is set to be Rs19/- for each transfer but the plans to introduce the service in the nation have already been postponed twice due to various unresolved issues.
LNP in brief:
There is also another system which is known as Local Number Portability (LNP) and it is for fixed-line telephones. It means transfering the existing land-line phone to another location under the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) system and reassigning that telephone number to another carrier.
