The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has pushed back the deadline for mobile number portability (MNP) implementation from September 30 to December 31 this year.

As a result, Indian users have to wait for some more months to get rid of unsatisfactory services.

The decision of delaying the deadline has been impelled by failure of mobile service providers to upgrade their systems for MNP service. Moreover, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also failed to clarify the standard MNP charges to be imposed on the customers.

Dot has said that MNP implementation is in progress. However, this requires customization and up gradation of the current system to make them MNP ready. Certain technical and commercial issues related to MNP implementation have been resolved.

Dot added that the whole process needs time and effort. Therefore, it has been by DoT to extend date of implementation of MNP to December 31, 2009.

In the first phase, the MNP service will be provided in Metro Category A service areas, which includes Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.