The Indian government has ruled operators must streamline the process to port over phone numbers regardless of their tariff plan.
CommsUpdate reported, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) sustained a direction from telecoms authority the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), to force operators to provide outgoing SMS service to port over mobile numbers.
Vodafone Idea had its objection rejected by the TDSAT, the operator argued it is not possible to provide SMS services, particularly to customers who do not purchase tariffs with SMS included, arguing thereby foregoing their rights to make use of mobile number portability (MNP) services.
The operator is claiming TRAI is infringing on its right to create tariffs. TRAI issued the direction In December 2021 after customers complained they had not received the SMS needed to port their numbers over to their new SIMs.
Overall the TDSAT said TRAI’s order will have no impact on operators and their ability to create tariff packages. Furthermore, with TRAI’s guidance an obligation will be set wehre operators have to provide SMS for MNP services. However, the higher authority conceded operators are entitled to charge for MNP-related SMS at its usual rate.
