Full MNP to start from July: Ravi Shankar Prasad

New Delhi: Union minister for communication and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Tuesday that the full mobile number portability will be started from July and  announced that BSNL will start offering free national roaming from June 15. He said that to check call drops, government is looking at possibility of bringing in disincentives for telecom operators but urged the public not to be fearful of mobile radiation and allow mobile towers as India follows stringent norms.

In an apparent reference to 2G scam, the minister said that when he took charge of the telecom department, it was in news for the wrong reasons. “I can say with confidence today that be it Sanchar Bhawan (telecom department), be it Dak Bhawan (post office) or Electronic Niketan (information technology) or PSUs; lobbyists and middlemen have got no space or place. Decisions are being taken in a transparent manner,” said Mr Prasad in a press conference organised on the occasion of Modi government completing one year in office.

On net neutrality, the minister said that the telecom department panel that was set up to look into the net neutrality issue has submitted its report. “The decision (on net neutrality) will be taken by the government and the Cabinet. The government will have the benefit of both the reports namely of my department and Trai. I would expect that report to be expedited,” he said. The minister said that the telecom ministry will bring before the cabinet the policy on spectrum trading and spectrum sharing before June end.