STAFF REPORT IBD: The government has banned the mobile number portability (MNP) service as a part of the countrys “counter terrorism measures”, but by doing this, it has made the cell phone users and all the customers feel deprived from their basic right of switching over to a cellular network of their own choice.
In addition, the government and PTA in a recently held meeting have strictly ordered to impose a ban on the sale of unregistered SIM cards for mobile phones. It was also revealed in the meeting that the PTA has planned to block up to 5 per cent of the total illegal SIM cards that are due in process.
The meeting decided that compulsory documents are required as the proof of validity of a user to buy a SIM card for mobile are utility bills along with a proper and valid identity proofs.
However, some mobile phone companies and operators raised their concerns and problems that could occur as the consequences of the ban imposed on MNP because it will hugely hurt and affect their number of users as these companies will be left out with limited number of users on their networks.