The DoT’s meeting called to take feedback from service providers over their mobile number portability (MNP) preparedness, saw all the operators except for BSNL committing to be MNP-ready by the March 31, 2010 deadline, reports the PTI.

Only BSNL said that it will be difficult for the PSU to meet the deadline. The operator will be able to be MNP-ready only by middle of May.

"We have asked mobile operators to stick to the March 31, 2010 deadline for rolling out the MNP and we are confident that the March 31, 2010 deadline would be met by them. We will continue to review their preparedness," Telecom Secretary P J Thomas told PTI.

"We got security clearance for MNP gateway only in February 3 which cause a two-month delay in our preparedness. We have issued the advanced purchase order but supply of equipment, installation and testing would take time till mid-May.. March 31 deadline looks difficult as fas as we are concerned", BSNL CMD Kuldeep Goyal told PTI.