MNP a good idea for dissatisfied telecom customers

The overall negative growth in telecom subscription failed to dampen the mobile number portability service in the country. While telecom companies lost subscribers during July to September quarter this fiscal, MNP perked up during the same time, with the month of August witnessing record 5.61 million subscribers opting for the scheme. The wireless story in India suffered a setback when for the first time in several years telecom companies registered negative growth in net subscriber additions during the month of July 2012; the trend The overall negative growth in telecom subscription failed to dampen the mobile number portability service in the country. While telecom companies lost subscribers during July to September quarter this fiscal, MNP perked up during the same time, with the month of August witnessing record 5.61 million subscribers opting for the scheme. The wireless story in India suffered a setback when for the first time in several years telecom companies registered negative growth in net subscriber additions during the month of July 2012; the trend has persisted. June-end there were about 934.09 million subscribers in the country while by the end of September, the number dropped to 906.62 million, registering a 27.47 million subscriber fall.In contrast, the number portability perked up during the period under review, moving up from 54.33 million June-end to 69.78 million by September-end, registering a growth of 15.45 million in the three-month period.A Zee Research Group (ZRG) study of TRAI data reveals that MNP requests have increased by 70 per cent during December 2011 - September 2012 over the first 10 months of introduction of the service. It was in February 2011 that the MNP regime was officially introduced in the country. However, in the first 10 months of introduction, only 25.84 million consumers made requests to change their operators. Last 10 months witnessed the MNP requests grow by 43.92 million.The analysis of the overall MNP data suggests that during the last 20 months, total MNP requests increased from 3.83 million in February 2011 to 69.78 million in September 2012. In the period of last ten months starting from December 2011, eight out of 10 times it was found that the MNP requests figure crossed the 4-million mark.A month-on-month study of the data under review shows that the numbers grew from 3.4 million in December 2011 to 3.55 million subscribers in January 2012. This rise continued unabated in February 2012 when for the first time the request figures crossed the 4-million mark. Further, during the period (March-September) of this calendar, the trend remained intact as more than 4.0 million requests were placed each on monthly basis. In August alone, 5.61 million consumers had applied for change of operators which was the maximum number in terms of requests placed so far. This reflects a new emerging way of customer acquisition in the telecom space.A statewise study depicts that the maximum MNP requests of 8.64 million were received in Karnataka followed by Rajasthan (6.70 million), Andhra Pradesh (6.55 million) and Gujarat (6.08 million).Also, during the last twenty months, Idea gained the maximum market share of 1.33 per cent, followed by Bharti Airtel (0.42 percent) andVodafone (0.14 percent). However, Reliance communications and BSNL lost market share of 1.47 per cent and 0.13 per cent respectively.

has persisted. June-end there were about 934.09 million subscribers in the country while by the end of September, the number dropped to 906.62 million, registering a 27.47 million subscriber fall.

In contrast, the number portability perked up during the period under review, moving up from 54.33 million June-end to 69.78 million by September-end, registering a growth of 15.45 million in the three-month period.

A Zee Research Group (ZRG) study of TRAI data reveals that MNP requests have increased by 70 per cent during December 2011 - September 2012 over the first 10 months of introduction of the service. It was in February 2011 that the MNP regime was officially introduced in the country. However, in the first 10 months of introduction, only 25.84 million consumers made requests to change their operators. Last 10 months witnessed the MNP requests grow by 43.92 million.

The analysis of the overall MNP data suggests that during the last 20 months, total MNP requests increased from 3.83 million in February 2011 to 69.78 million in September 2012. In the period of last ten months starting from December 2011, eight out of 10 times it was found that the MNP requests figure crossed the 4-million mark.

A month-on-month study of the data under review shows that the numbers grew from 3.4 million in December 2011 to 3.55 million subscribers in January 2012. This rise continued unabated in February 2012 when for the first time the request figures crossed the 4-million mark. Further, during the period (March-September) of this calendar, the trend remained intact as more than 4.0 million requests were placed each on monthly basis. In August alone, 5.61 million consumers had applied for change of operators which was the maximum number in terms of requests placed so far. This reflects a new emerging way of customer acquisition in the telecom space.

A statewise study depicts that the maximum MNP requests of 8.64 million were received in Karnataka followed by Rajasthan (6.70 million), Andhra Pradesh (6.55 million) and Gujarat (6.08 million).

Also, during the last twenty months, Idea gained the maximum market share of 1.33 per cent, followed by Bharti Airtel (0.42 percent) and Vodafone (0.14 percent). However, Reliance communications and BSNL lost market share of 1.47 per cent and 0.13 per cent respectively.