DHAKA, March 14, 2018 (BSS) – Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are in pursuit of lingering the much awaited mobile number portability (MNP) service by seeking more time for implementation.
The telecom regulator has declined to give two months more time for introduction of the service as requested by Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB), said officials. But a few technical issues are yet to be settled.
Talking to BSS, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood today said there is no scope of delaying the MNP service.
“We are on the right track, and MNP will be introduced on time,” he said mentioning that the mobile phone user will enjoy the service in May.
Dr Mahmood, however, said that they are moving ahead for the service consulting with the stakeholders.
Officials said the MNOs raised nearly 50 to 60 issues regarding the implementation process of MNP, but most of the issues have already been settled through consultation and the process is going on. A committee comprising representatives from BTRC, MNOs and the MNP operator has already sat four times to solve different technical aspects.
On November 30 last year, the telecom regulator handed over the MNP license to the selected joint venture firm Infozillion BD Teletech Consortium Limited.
The company must provide the service within 180 days of getting the license. The license acquisition fee was Taka 10 crore and the company will have to share 15 percent of its revenues with the government from the second year onwards. Infozillion BD Teletech Consortium is a joint venture of Infozillion BD Limited and Teletech DOO, Slovenia.
Managing Director of Infozillion BD Teletech Consortium Limited (IBTCL) Mabroor Hossain today told BSS that they have already brought all the hardware while software will be modified within next 2/3 weeks.
“We will be ready fully within April 15 to 20, but to do so full cooperation from the MNOs is required,” he added.
Once the service is introduced, the mobile phone user can port to another operator retaining his/her number unchanged at Taka 30 and the process would take highest 72 hours. If any user again wants to change operator, he/she has to wait 90 days.
In the MNP services, officials said, the MNOs will be connected with the clearing house of IBTCL. When a user will bid for deport, the concerned operator will share info with donor MNO through the clearing house. But, the MNOs are stuck up on timing of deporting request and switch, reply, auto replay and reply cancellation time for deport and few other issues. In addition, the MNOs have to customize their billing and IP system along with other technical aspects.