Cost of porting mobile numbers

Upset with your mobile operator for overcharging? Fed up with dropped calls?

Or worse still, stuck with an operator whose license was cancelled? In all these cases, porting your number may be the way out.

The procedure is simple. However, you need to keep in mind factors such as what to do with your existing balance, your unpaid bills (if post paid), porting charges and tariff of the new player, before shifting loyalties.

Simple porting

All you need to do is to send a message (PORT <Mobile Number>) to 1900; in return, you would receive a porting code.

You need to make note of this code and give it to your new operator, along with documents such as address proof.

Remember, you must have spent a minimum of 90 days with your current operator before porting out.

The new operator will give you a SIM card.

Porting between providers takes around 7 working days and you will receive a message in your mobile about the exact date and time of porting.

There would be no service, but only for a couple of hours, usually starting from the midnight prior to your confirmed porting date.

That done, you are now free from the tyranny of your old operator and can enjoy better service.

The cost factor

The cost of porting is fixed at Rs 19 by the telecom regulator.

But there are important points to note.

If you are a pre-paid customer and have opted for porting, you will forego all the balance once you change service providers as it cannot be carried forward.

So, make sure you exhaust it before you port out.

If you are a post-paid customer, you will have to show your last paid bill to the new operator.

Also, from your billing date to the porting date, you will continue to be charged by your old service provider.

So, if your billing date is 10th of every month and you port out on 20th, you will have to pay for the 10 days' usage.

There is no running away from these charges!

The right plan

The last aspect is that of tariffs of the new operator. Be careful about choosing the right plan so that you don't end up paying through your nose.

The telecom regulator has mandated that all mobile service companies must offer at least one ‘per-second' plan to customers.

So if you have been on a per-second billing mode, you can continue to be so with your new operator, albeit with some minor changes in total charges.

ven@thehindu.co.in

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