Idea Gains Most Subscribers From Mobile Number Portability: Prasad

The data shared in the Lok Sabha by Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad showed that Reliance Communications is the biggest net loser of mobile subscribers through MNP.

"The reason for port out (leaving network of a company)/ port in (joining network of a company) may be as...non-satisfaction of the subscribers from their existing mobile operator, expectation of getting better services from recipient mobile operator," Prasad said in a statement.

Till June 30, 2014, over 1.51 crore mobile subscribers switched from Idea Cellular to other telecom operators; however, about 2.46 crore subscribers joined the company's network through the MNP, resulting in a net gain of around 95 lakh customers.

In case of RCom, over 1.4 crore subscribers left its network and only about 79.4 lakh subscribers joined through the MNP facility, showing a net loss of about 61.5 lakh customers till June 30. As per data, only three companies Idea, Vodafone and Airtel have gained net subscribers from the MNP facility, while other companies have been on the losing side.

Vodafone lost the maximum over 1.96 crore customers through the MNP, while it gained over 2.71 crore subscribers, more than any other operator.

However, Vodafone found place at the second spot after Idea with a net gain of over 74.65 lakh customers. Airtel's net gain of subscribers stood at over 36.35 lakh.

State-run telecom firms BSNL and MTNL saw a net loss of over 15.54 lakh and 2.13 lakh customers respectively. Net subscriber loss of Aircel stood at over 23.16 lakh, Videocon 4.48 lakh, Sistema Shyam (MTS) 3.82 lakh, Tata Teleservices 45.45 lakh and Telewings (Uninor) 33 lakh.

Over 10.25 crore out of about 91 crore mobile subscribers used MNP facility till June 30, according to the data shared by the minister.