9.31 million subscribers opted for MNP till July: TRAI

The total number of subscribers opting for mobile number portability (MNP) has risen to 59.31 million, with Karnataka receiving the maximum number of 7.2 million requests till the end of July, according to official data.

MNP allows users to switch operators while retaining their mobile numbers.

"By the end of July 2012, about 59.31 million subscribers have submitted their requests to different service providers for porting their mobile number," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said in a statement.

Karnataka was followed by Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan where 5.7 million and 5.6 million subscribers opted for the service.

MNP was implemented across the country last January while the pilot launch of the service took place in Haryana Nov 25, 2010.

To opt for MNP, a customer has to pay a maximum of Rs.19 to the new operator for 'porting' the number and remain with the new operator for at least three months.

The customer has to send an SMS from the existing phone to 1900. A unique porting code is sent by the existing provider. An application then has to be filed with the new service provider mentioning the code for transferring the connection.

India currently has almost 914 million mobile phone subscribers.