5G services have already been launched in India. As a result, many are now having a great network experience. However, as of January 2024, more than 12.36 million (1.236 crore) Indians are reported to have requested to port their SIM cards from their current telecom operator to another telecom operator. Note that customers use the Mobile Number Portability or MNP system to port their existing phone number to another telecom network. It is a process through which any user can easily transfer their SIM card from one network to another network.
According to data released by TRAI, Indian telecom operators received a total of 12.36 million (1.236 crore) MNP requests in the first quarter of this year. Of which 7.12 million (71.2 lakh) requests came from Zone 1 of India, while the remaining 5.24 million (52.4 lakh) requests came from Zone 2.
This Zone 1 includes North and West India and Zone 2 includes South and East India. Since Vodafone Idea and BSNL’s subscriber base has dropped tremendously, it would not be too difficult to assume that these subscribers have switched to other operators through MNP.
However, it should be noted that an MNP request does not mean that every customer will port. Because sometimes users use the current network even after requesting it.
Incidentally, MNP was first launched on 25th November 2010. A total of 939.55 million (93.955 crore) MNP requests have been received since then. And it is expected that this request will cross 1 billion (100 crore) next month.
