The much-awaited mobile number portability (MNP) service has been launched for the first time in the country on trial basis, enabling the customers to switch to different operators without changing their existing mobile phone numbers.

Jahurul Haque, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC), said the service went into operation at 12 am on Monday, reports teh UNB.

It will take Tk 50 as well as a 15 percent value-added tax (VAT) to change carriers within 72 hours. ‘Besides, customers will have to pay another amount of Tk 100. ‘It’ll take a total of Tk 157.50 to change one’s operator,’ he said adding that there will be increased competition among the mobile phone operators following the service.

Bangladesh has introduced the service as the 72ndcountry in the world, Jahurul Haque added.

Infozillion BD Teletech, a joint venture between a Bangladeshi firm and a Slovenian firm, which received the licence of the service, completed the preparations for the launch.

Mabroor Hossain, managing director of Infozillion BD Teletech, said 20 customers have already availed of the service in the morning while more than 100 customers applied for to do so.