Kochi: BSNL seems to be the biggest gainer when it comes to Mobile Number Portability (MNP). As per the statistics released by the BSNL, in an RTI reply, since its inception in 2011, 13.24 lakh users ported to BSNL from other service providers. BSNL also lost 5.24 lakh customers in the process. Idea, the market leader, suffered the biggest loss with 5 lakh users joining BSNL. BSNL boasts of a consumer base of more than 80 lakh in the state.
The government-run telecom firm gave the details in an RTI reply given to Dhanraj S. of Kochi, an RTI activist and a techie by profession. Idea lost 5,34,271 customers, Vodafone 3,30,765, Airtel 2,38,870 and Tata GSM lost 1,01,817 customers to BSNL. Interestingly, 2,45,679 customers who decided to port out from the BSNL opted for Idea, the market leaders and 1,59,435 persons opted for Vodafone. With the launch of Reliance Jio services, companies are trying to desperately retain their customer base. Recently, Vodafone launched an offer Rs 200 discount per month for six consecutive billing cycles for new postpaid subscribers. BSNL is also mooting plans to launch lifetime free voice service from January 2017 among other data offers.
Details of the other companies were unavailable as repeated attempts to get the statistics failed as companies refused to reveal the data citing company policy. A user can port out to his desired network by sending an SMS from the mobile number you want to port to the number ‘1900’ with text ‘PORT’ followed by space followed by the 10 digit mobile number you want to port. The operator will send a ‘Unique Porting Code’. One can apply for a new connection by filling this code in the application form of the desired network.
