Postpaid users, high spenders and business subscribers are more likely to switch their operator if Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is introduced in the country, while prepaid users may remain loyal to their existing operator, a study on Wednesday said.
A study by research firm Nielsen on Mobile Consumer Insights, suggests high spenders, postpaid subscribers and business subscribers show a greater tendency to switch if MNP is introduced.
However, prepaid, low and medium spend users are not motivated to switch, it added.
Mobile number portability enables mobile telephone users to retain their mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another.
Nielsen estimates that close to one in five (18 per cent) Indian mobile phone subscribers would change their mobile operator if MNP is introduced into the market. Nielsen surveyed about 12,500 mobile subscribers across 50 centres in the country with measuring metrics such as satisfaction, willingness to recommend, reasons for churn and reasons for operator selection.
Among the respondents, one in four Reliance and Tata Indicom subscribers would be keen to change their operator if MNP is introduced, followed by close to one in five (19 per cent) of BSNL subscribers would switch.
"Consumers and the market will decide who the predominant player will be, with the significant developments in the industry of Mobile Number Portability. As the market grows and hyper-competition takes effect, retention of the right type of customers will become critical," The Nielsen Company India executive director (telecom practice) Shankari Panchapakesan said.
He added that MNP could be leveraged by operators in the country through smart, targeted marketing and promotions to coincide with the introduction of the facility.
