According to a statement released by Trai (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) that Mobile Number Portability (MNP) has crossed a landmark figure of 100 million with 11 per cent of the total mobile subscribers exercising this facility till date.

MNP was introduced across the country on January 2011.

Mobile number portability is a facility for the mobile telephone user which allows him to retain his mobile telephone number when he moves from one access provider to another access provider in the same service area irrespective of the mobile technology or from one cellular mobile technology to another of the same access provider.

TRAI also said that in 2011 the porting requests rate was around 40% which has been brought down to around 11% now.

Keeping in view the consumer interests, Trai prescribed a porting charge of Rs 19 which is among the lowest in the world.

In this process, Trai issued a number of directions and orders to the telecom service providers.

In addition, financial disincentives to the tune of about Rs 8 crore have also been levied on various service providers, wherever they have been found in violation of MNP regulations.

From this year, corporate porting has also started wherein mobile numbers taken in the name of firms/corporation can also be ported if such porting is duly authorised by their authorised representative.