New Delhi, Aug 15: Switching over to a different cellular service provider with same number could now become possible as Telecom Regulatory Authority of India will start working on 'number portability' plan in October. "It is a complex thing to bring in number portability. It needs a whole lot of changes in the numbering scheme, in the equipment. So we will start the process in October," Trai chairman Pradip Baijal said here.

Implementation of number portability assumes significance as it would allow customers of one service provider to migrate to another operator, while retaining the same phone number.

"We are appointing a consultant who will tell us how various countries have done this. One way of doing it is to deploy a powerful computer. There are also many other platforms for this. A lot of countries have done it," Baijal said.
He said Trai would ask consultants to study the network and suggest most viable and suitable methods for implementation of number portability. Bureau Report