MNP to have limited impact: study

The introduction of mobile number portability, through which users can change their service provider without changing their phone number, was expected to shake up the market, but now industry leaders are recognising that this may not happen, says a study.

The service was first launched in Haryana in November last year. "With just 0.75 per cent of mobile subscribers in Haryana having made use of the porting service in the three months since its introduction, it is still unclear how the service will do following its pan-India launch," the Sri-Lanka based research firm LIRNEasia said in a study.

 Idea Cellular, which launched a major advertising campaign for the service, has indicated lower expectations on the impact of MNP.

But in fact, nothing can be concluded from the first few days of the launch, considering the trajectory of porting rates over time in other countries that have introduced the service.

As speculation rises on how the Indian marketplace will receive the service, it will be interesting to note the post paid and prepaid porting rates, says the study.

Earlier, in another study on the MNP, LIRNasia had said the service will have limited value to the vast numbers of those on prepaid plans and who have little number loyalty.