The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), on 14th March 2024, issued the
Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability (Ninth Amendment ) Regulations ,2024. This
regulation came into effect from July 1, 2024.
As per the regulation, a mandatory seven-day waiting period for mobile number portability (MNP)
following a SIM swap or replacement, to curb fraudulent activities involving SIM card manipulation
and mobile phone fraud.
Previously, a 10-day waiting period was required after a SIM swap, but TRAI has now reduced it to
seven days in the latest amendment. The amended regulations are aimed at curbing the porting of
mobile numbers by way of fraudulent SIM swaps or replacements by unscrupulous elements, stated
TRAI.
The new rule introduces an additional criterion for rejecting requests for a Unique Porting Code
(UPC), which is essential for MNP. Specifically, a UPC shall not be allocated if the request for the UPC
has been made before the expiry of seven days from the date of the SIM swap/replacement.
