Dhaka: The test run of much-awaited mobile number portability (MNP) service will be launched on October 1, Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar said on Wednesday.

The MNP service allows a subscriber to change telecom carrier keeping the same phone number.

The minister said the service will be launched officially later following feedback from customers on the test run.

He also said the mobile phone operators will be forced to develop the MNP service as there will be a competition.

Mabroor Hossain, managing director of Infozillion BD Teletech which has received the licence of the service, said all preparations have already been completed to launch the service. “The service will be launched on October 1.”

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has fixed Tk 50 for availing the service at the customer level, he said.

The operator will be changed 72 hours after applying for the MNP and a customer will have to wait for 90 days if he/she wants to change the operator again.