Reliance Jio has allegedly slammed Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone for deliberately refusing to assist their smartphone users to migrate to the newly established Jio 4G networks. There were reports that Airtel and Vodafone are refusing to accept technical support from users of the smartphones sold by Reliance Jio. According to sources, few existing users have expressed their desire to migrate to Reliance Jio 4G and for that purpose assistance of existing providers are vital.
In a letter dated September 14 to TRAI Chairman R S Sharma, Reliance Jio disclosed that Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone India are perpetrating “illegal and perverse actions” by refusing to enable the porting of mobile number connections. Jio added that this is a clear and deliberate breach of the license conditions.
Trai should direct mobile operators to comply with rules
Reliance also said that Trai must direct existing dominant operators to comply with their terms and obligations. Otherwise, the licenses provided to them should be cancelled. However, the three mobile operators declined to reveal more information about the development.
It is important to note that this is being done in blatant disregard to license terms and their obligations under the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Regulations, 2009 and Trai directions.
Reliance Jio claims they are MNP compliant
Meanwhile, Reliance Jio said that the company has been certified as Mobile Number Portability (MNP) compliant by the Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring Cells of all service area. The company did write a letter to all existing mobile service providers about the launch of 4G services.
Even though Reliance has fulfilled all the required legal and contractual obligation of portability after a valid request is made, the existing mobile service providers have been rejecting all the requests made for porting between September 9 and September 12. The company said that a substantial number of port requests are being rejected causing inconvenience to users.
MNP of Reliance Jio employees rejected by Airtel despite no dues
Reliance Jio also confirmed that the rejections also include the MNP request of 4919 corporate mobile numbers. These numbers were issued to employees and members of Reliance Industries Group by Bharti Airtel in August 2016.
Interestingly, Airtel has confirmed that there were no outstanding dues and the MNP process could be completed. However, Reliance Jio claims that the company is deliberately holding the portability process.
In August 2016, Reliance had requested all employees to shunt rival mobile service providers and migrate to Jio. Meanwhile, Reliance Jio 4G services have been extended to LeEco superphones as well.
