Mobile phone users of the country will have to wait at least another year before they can enjoy the benefits of Mobile Number Portability (MNP).
MNP gives the users freedom to frequently switch between operators without changing even one digit of the phone number for a certain transfer fee, which BTRC recommends will be Tk50.
“Considering the upcoming 3G services and all the other relevant arrangements, it is almost impossible to complete the process of establishing MNP within 12 months,” Mahmud Hossain, chief corporate officer (CCO) of Grameenphone told the Dhaka Tribune.
Grameenphone, the leading mobile phone operator of the country, was very much interested about MNP but it should be done properly to reduce the subscribers’ hassle, he said.
On May 6, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) approved the MNP service with an aim to foster competition by lowering the barrier for customers who wish to change operators.
The country’s telecom regulator believes that it will play a significant role in breaking the “monopoly” of some operators, improve the quality of service in general and narrow the gap in the tariff rates.
BTRC on Wednesday sent a draft of the MNP Guideline to the operators and directed them to finalise it within a month through consultation with each other.
The guideline allocates two months for process specification and another three months for the operators to set up the relevant equipment after BTRC vets the process.
The operators get six more months to test and run the system.
“We have already directed the operators about MNP as it is now a public demand,” BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose recently told the Dhaka Tribune.
“It is an operator’s responsibility to establish all supporting infrastructure and create user-friendly market conditions,” he added.
According to world standards, after the introduction of MNP, the number signatures of the operators, Grameenphone’s 017 for example, will not be valid.
With a mobile number starting with 017, one will be able to use the services of other operators as well.
Some operators in Bangladesh currently have a relatively similar service where a subscriber can switch networks but at least one digit of the number has to be changed for availing the service.
According to the MNP Guideline, users can enjoy the comfort of choosing any operator only at a cost of TK50 within 3 days.
It also says operators will handle the issue by forming a consortium with a BTRC commissioner as its member.
The MNP system will be operated with a new software under a central system, in which all the operators will participate, and will be managed by a third-party company, the guideline continues.
Grameenphone CCO Mahmud Hossain said governance would be the main challenge of introducing the mobile number portability system. “It would take time to establish a body and form its regulations. Operators need to deposit money, float international tender and import equipment. Still a long way to go.”
Other operators said they would reply BTRC about the draft guideline within a short time.
A high official from mobile phone operator Robi said: “The process is very complicated. By this time 3G auction will be held and another new operator will join. Besides, lots of technical processes should be followed. So it will take time.”
Sources said security was the main concern as Pakistan had to stop the service just after a few months of launching MNP.
BTRC however said there was a clause in the guideline that bounded the “Donour” operator to preserve the records of the migrating number for at least 12 months.
India implemented the third-party-handled MNP in 2011. A customer pays Rs19 for availing the service.
In Thailand, using MNP costs THB99, while it is fully free in Malaysia.
Other Asian MNP countries and territories are Hong Kong and Singapore.
A total of 61 countries around the globe have the MNP system in place with the United Kingdom pioneering the practice in 1999. Other sources however puts Hong Kong as its first exponent.
Nigeria became the last county in April to set up NMP.
BTRC initiated to launch MNP once before in 2008 and also made a guideline but the operators did not agree then.
The process regained momentum in 2012 after the Parliamentary standing committee on the telecommunication ministry recommended setting up MNP within that year.