Idea Cellular adds over 15 lakh new subscribers via MNP
Idea Cellular has gained the maximum number of subscribers via the newly implemented Mobile Number Portability (MNP) system in the country. The telecom operator has reported a net gain of 15.72 lakh subscribers as on November 15, reveals the communication ministry. Idea Cellular has surpassed other two private operators Vodafone and Bharti Airtel which reported gain of 12.06 lakh and 2.95 lakh respectively.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said that the ministry was taking strict actions against the telecom operators for not adhering to the MNP provisions. “Wherever violations of MNP regulations and directions were observed, TRAI issued show-cause notices to the concerned service providers,” he said, adding, “So far, the show cause (notices) have been issued to the following service providers: Bharti Airtel, Idea, Loop, Reliance and Vodafone.”
The state-run telecom operators have been hurt most from the MNP. The number of subscribers leaving these two state-run telecom operators is higher than those opting for their mobile services. Back in August, the government had released its figures, stating that then 9.33 lakh BSNL subscribers had switched to a private operator via the MNP.
Of late, there had been reports that the private telecom operators were not honouring the portability requests. Earlier this month, the TRAI slammed Vodafone for rejecting several mobile number portability requests on the ground of contractual obligation.
In a related report, it was revealed that more than 41,000 subscribers registered complaints against various telecom operators over poor services and other grievances with the DoT and TRAI in the first half of the 2011-12 fiscal year. Most of the complaints filed with the DoT were against state-run telecom operators MTNL and BSNL. More than 24,000 complaints were filed against MTNL, while 11,000 against BSNL.
Reliance Communications (RCom) tops the list for the maximum number of complaints. About 1,859 complaints were filed against RCom with the DoT and 232 with the TRAI. Airtel follows RCom with 1,392 complaints with the DoT and 391 with the TRAI.
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