The Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) has denied reports that the GSM operator's body is against number portability, and reiterated its stance of introducing the system in holistic manner.
In a letter issued to the media, COAI has deplored the "misinformation being circulated", but sought introduction of number portability in a holistic manner.
"We are greatly disappointed to note that certain vested interests are deliberately misrepresenting the COAI and the GSM industry position on number portability, on the contrary, we are demanding an aggressive introduction of the system," the letter said.
Number portability should be introduced in a complete and holistic manner and to the benefit all consumers, both fixed and mobile. It should be introduced across the country, and not just in the four metros.
"Number portability benefits all customers and there is no good reason why this benefit should not be made available to the overwhelming majority of Indian subscribers," it said.
Licensing in India is on service area basis, and hence a phased implementation serves no purpose.
The COAI states that a full implementation can and should be done concurrently, for all service areas, and for all consumers, mobile and fixed. In fact, the need for number portability is greater in 'B' and `C' circles, where the choice of operators is limited.
"It should be noted that even after nearly five years of CDMA operations in the country, India still does not have the concept of unlocked CDMA handsets. CDMA operators invariably lock their handsets, so that their subscribers face high-switching costs. As a result of a recent class – action lawsuit in the USA, the concerned US CDMA provider has agreed to unlock all handsets in their collection, so that these can also be activated by competing CDMA providers".
The DoT and the TRAI, in the interests of consumers, could immediately decree that CDMA providers should unlock handsets. This will provide subscribers the freedom to choose between CDMA service providers, as indeed is the case with GSM service providers. Such a change should be carried out swiftly, without waiting for several months for the implementation of number portability, it said.
In the fiercely competitive Indian market, the GSM operators enjoy high customer preference in their respective service areas, and are happy to embrace number portability. It is befitting that pure consumer choice should prevail. The GSM players have welcomed and thrived upon fair competition on level-playing field terms.
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