Mobile Number Portability: TRAI directs telcos to allow users to send SMS to 1900 on any pre-paid voucher

In a major relief for telecom subscribers who are planning to port their numbers, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed telecom service providers to allow users to send the mandatory SMS to 1900 using any pre-paid voucher.

The telecom regulator on Tuesday gave a direction in this regard in the wake of complaints from subscribers for not being able to send SMS on short code 1900 despite having sufficient balance in their prepaid accounts. To port a number, customer must send an SMS from his/her number to 1900 for Unique Porting Code (UPC) generation.

“..directs all access service providers to enable, with immediate effect, for all mobile subscribers, both prepaid and postpaid, requesting for a unique porting code, the facility to send SMS on short code 1900, in order to exercise their right to avail porting facility,” the TRAI said in its direction.

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In the direction, the TRAI further observed that by not allowing consumers to send SMS using a pre-paid voucher, the telecom companies are denying the rights of consumers.

“.. The Authority is of the view that this practice of non provision of the facility of sending MNP related SMS in certain pre-paid vouchers/plans is in contravention of the provisions of MNP Regulations, as it takes away the consumer's right, provided for in the regulations, to avail mobile number portability facility.”

In fact, the TRAI, in its direction issued in December 2010, asked telecom companies to treat the SMS sent to short code number 1900 as ordinary SMS for the purpose of charging and the rate for such SMS shall not exceed the tariff applicable for ordinary SMS under the tariff plan opted by the subscriber.