RCom, Tata Teleservices Top Net Losers of Subscribers Under MNP: Prasad

Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices and Aircel are among the top net losers of subscribers under mobile number portability (MNP) services, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Tuesday.

Idea Cellular has been the biggest net gainer of mobile subscribers though MNP service, as per data till October, 2014 presented in the Lok Sabha by the minister.

"The public sector companies, i.e. BSNL and MTNL have not lost the maximum number of subscribers cumulatively since the launch of MNP in the country," Prasad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The MNP service allows mobile subscribers to change their service provider while retaining their existing numbers.

RCom net loss of subscribers stood at over 78 lakhs as on October 30, 2014, Tata Teleservices at 53 lakhs and Aircel at over 36 lakh net subscribers - which is more than that of BSNL and MTNL.

BSNL net loss of subscribers was at over 22 lakh and MTNL lost over 2.7 lakh customers. MTNL, however, lost about 4 times more number of customers it gained.

Only four operators have gained subscribers through MNP - Idea, Airtel, Vodafone and RCom subsidiary Reliance Telecom.

Idea net gain of subscribers at the end of October 2014 stood at over 1.25 crore, Vodafone gained over 1.04 crore, Airtel 50 lakh and Reliance Telecom over 3.84 lakh subscribers, as per the official.

The MNP at present allows a mobile customer to change network within same telecom service area. The government has asked telecom operators to implement full MNP from May 3 which will allow mobile customers to change their operator in case they shift to a place outside the service provider's area part while retaining their same number.