New Delhi: Mobile phone users will soon be able to change their telecom operators and retain their number even if you are relocating to areas outside of the operations of service providers. 

Currently, mobile subscribers have restricted facilities change their telecommunications companies, retaining its number within the same service using mobile number portability (MNP). For example, a subscriber in Delhi NCR can change operator within Delhi NCR only. 

The Department of Telecom has set a deadline March 31, 2015 to implement the full mobile number portability (MNP), an official said. 

"The Telecom Commission has accepted TRAI's recommendations in full MNP," said the source. 

The panel's decision will now be placed before Ravi Shankar Prasad Telecom Minister for final approval. 

Under full MNP, for example, a subscriber in Delhi NCR can switch to a telecommunications network in Tamil Nadu or any of the state or place in which he moves himself / herself, keeping the same number. 

According to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), about 13 crore people have applied for MNP facility as August 31. 

TRAI in its recommendation to the full MNP had suggested to telecom operators six months to make the necessary changes to your network from the date on which the proposal is cleared. The source said DoT will make efforts to get it done in time expedited five months.