Archive for the ‘Mobile Number Portability’ Category
Sunday, November 21st, 2010 |
MNP Technologies :
A significant technical aspect of MNP is related to the routing of calls or mobile messages (SMS, MMS) to a number once it has been ported. There are four main methods to route a number whose operator has changed .
- All Call Query (ACQ)
- Query on Release (QoR)
- Call Dropback
- Onward Call Routing
All Call Query (ACQ)
International best practice is via the use of a central database (CDB) of ported numbers. Network operators generally hold local copies of CDB and query it to find out which network to send a call to. This is highly efficient and scalable.
All call query method is most efficient when the ported subscribers are a lot.
Query on Release (QoR)
Originating network routes the call to Donor Network. The Donor Network releases call in case of ported subscriber and informs that it no longer possesses the number. The operator that originates the call then checks the centralized database, as is done with ACQ. The call is routed to New Service Provider.
It is very efficient when the ported subscribers are small.
Call Dropback
Also known as Return to Pivot (RoP). The operator that originates the call first checks with the donor operator. The donor operator checks its own database and provides a new route. The operator that originates the call then uses this route to forward the call. No central database is consulted.
Onward Routing (OR)
The operator that originates the call checks with the donor operator. The donor operator checks its own database and obtains a new route. The operator to which the number was designated routes itself the call to the new operator. This model is called indirect routing.
Majority of the established and upcoming MNP systems across the world are based on this ACQ/CDB method of call routing. One of the very few countries to not use ACQ/CDB is the UK where calls to a number once it has been ported are still routed via the Donor network. This is also known as ‘Indirect Routing’.
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Sunday, September 19th, 2010 |
Number portability can be of different types.
1. Location-based Number portability:
This enables a mobile subscriber to use the same number when shifting from one geographical area to another.
2. Operator-based Number portability:
This makes it possible for a mobile subscriber (or a fixed telephony subscriber) to shift from one mobile (or a fixed) service provider to another in the same area and retain his original number too.
3. Service-based Number portability:
Enables subscribers of a company to use the same numbers across different mobile technologies — Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) based Wireless in Local Loop (WLL)and 3G networks.
4. Convergence-based Number portability:
It allows usage of the same number while shifting from fixed to mobile telephony. It can also be called a landline number portability.
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Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 |
Typical steps of MNP call flow – Inter Circle Scenario:
–A call originated from a PSTN switch or a mobile originated call is first queried at local NPDB by MSC/GMSC.
–Routing number is returned to GMSC which performs the digit analysis to determine an out of Circle call and routes the call to the National long distance Operator (NLDO).
–NLDO transports the call to the entry point of the terminating Circle.
–NLDO routes the call to the terminating Operator based on RN.
–terminating Operator on receiving the call, queries HLR for location information of subscriber.
–HLR queries VLR and request routing information.
–VLR returns the appropriate routing information.
–HLR responds to the GMSC with routing information.
–GMSC then use the routing information to route to the appropriate VMSC.
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Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 |
Mobile Number Details Post MNP Implementation:
After implementation of MNP in India, the mobile munber details are going to be changed completely. Mobile Trace will be very difficult after MNP implementation becuase a number would possibly have been ported out to some other telecom service provider. All service providers will have a data base updated in real time basis which will have information about all the ported numbers. So, only a telecom service provider would be able to provide mobile number details of all the numbers post MNP implementation.
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Sunday, August 29th, 2010 |
How mobile number porting can be done in India-From subscriber’s perspective.
This is process consists of the following steps:
1. A mobile subscriber has to send a SMS by typing “PORT Space Mobile number” to 1900.
2. Then he will get a Unique porting code UPC ( UPC is an 8 digit alpha- numereric number i.e. XY ABCDEF where X denotes name of operator and Y denoted circle and ABCDEF is any combination digits).
3. After getting UPC customer will have to go to recipient operator(i.e. where the customer wants to move to) and fill the customer form mentioning his UPC. Customer has to pay Rs.19/- (it is the upper limit) to the recipient operator(RO) and he will get a SIM of recipient operator.
4. Now the RO will forward his request to donor operator(i.e. from where the customer wants to move away) via MNP operator. Donor operator(DO) will have to 4 days to approve the request. If DO wants to reject the request he will have to mention the reasons for it.
5. The customer will now receive the SMS about exact time of the his number to be ported to RO.
6.On that exact date and time the customer can change his SIM with new SIM as his service from the DO will get disconnected. His service from RO will have to be activated with in 2 hrs.
So the whole process of mobile number porting will take maximum 7 days..
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Saturday, August 28th, 2010 |
Mobile Number Portability in India
MNP in India is finally set to go olive from Nov1,2010. MNP testing will start from Sept1,2010 to be completed by Oct31,2010. Telecom customers will be able to port their number from Nov1,2010. So, a completely a new trend is going to start very soon with the launch of Mobile number portability Implementation in India.
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Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 |
What is Mobile Number Portability (MNP) ?
The ability for a subscriber to maintain the same –phone number when switching service providers.The subscriber can move or “port” the phone number between service providers of the same nature (and in some cases between fixed and mobile operators).
Implementation Of MNP
The process of number porting consists of following steps:
- A customer sends number porting (NP) request to CNPMS .
- CNPMS starts negotiation by sending NP request to Donor operator.
- Donor operator accepts or rejects the NP request by checking his dues like payment of bills etc.
- After getting confirmation in step 3, CNPMS negotiates with recipient operator to get confirmation.
CNPMS intimates the customer about the total time to be taken for NP.
- Donor operator disconnects the service of the subscriber.
- Recipient operator activates the service of the subscriber.
- CNPMS sends service connects notice to all operators for updating their NP database(NPDB). Now customer can change his old SIM(or phone) with new SIM(or phone).
Subscription Termination Process consists of following steps:
- A Ported subscriber terminates his service from subscription network. Subscription network disconnects the number and retains the number for N days then returns the number to CNPMS.
- CNPMS then returns the number to Number holder Network.
- CNPMS sends the service disconnect Notice to all operators for updating their NP database(NPDB).
MNP Call Flow
Every operator will be maintaining a database(NPDB) of ported numbers. Hence, every time a customer makes a call or sends SMS, the operator has to query its database to check whether the B number(to which the call or SMS is being sent) has been ported or not. If the B number is in NPDB then that query returns the number and Local Routing Number(LRN).LRN is a unique number for every operator per circle, assigned by Dot. For example, Airtel customer makes a call to Idea customer(who has been ported to Vodafone), in this case the query will return the LRN of Vodafone so that the Airtel can route this call to Vodafone.If the B number is not in NPDB then it returns an illegal value.
Number Porting Process
*Donor operator is from which subscriber wants to move away. Recipient operator is new operator where customer wants to go.
The process of number porting consists of following steps:
1. A customer sends number porting (NP) request to CNPMS .
2. CNPMS starts negotiation by sending NP request to Donor operator.
3. Donor operator accepts or rejects the NP request by checking his dues like payment of bills etc.
4. After getting confirmation in step 3, CNPMS negotiates with recipient operator to get confirmation. CNPMS intimates the customer about the total time to be taken for NP.
5. Donor operator disconnects the service of the subscriber.
6. Recipient operator activates the service of the subscriber.
7. CNPMS sends service connects notice to all operators for updating their NP database(NPDB). Now customer can change his old SIM(or phone) with new SIM(or phone).
Subscription Termination Process
Subscription Termination Process consists of following steps:
1. A Ported subscriber terminates his service from subscription network. Subscription network disconnects the number and retains the number for N days then returns the number to CNPMS.
2. CNPMS then returns the number to Number holder Network.
3. CNPMS sends the service disconnect Notice to all operators for updating their NP database(NPDB).
Call and Message routing Process
Every operator will be maintaining a database(NPDB) of ported numbers. Hence, every time a customer makes a call or sends SMS, the operator has to query its database to check whether the B number(to which the call or SMS is being sent) has been ported or not. If the B number is in NPDB then that query returns the number and Local Routing Number(LRN).LRN is a unique number for every operator per circle, assigned by Dot. For example, Airtel customer makes a call to Idea customer(who has been ported to Vodafone), in this case the query will return the LRN of Vodafone so that the Airtel can route this call to Vodafone.If the B number is not in NPDB then it returns an illegal value.
Disadvantages of MNP:
1. Any balance(talk time) you have before porting will lapse.
2. You have to change the SIM at some extra cost.
3. Wait time is on a higher side around 2-5 days.
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