PRATEEK JALAN, J.

1. The petitioners in these two cases are Mobile Number Portability [hereinafter referred to as "MNP"] service providers licensed under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. They have challenged the validity of the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Per Port Transaction Charge and Dipping Charge [Amendment] Regulations, 2018 [hereinafter referred to as "the impugned Amendment"] issued by the respondent Telecom Regulatory Authority of India [hereinafter referred to as "TRAI"]. The impugned Amendment seeks to amend Regulation 3 of the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Per Port Transaction Charge and Dipping Charge Regulations, 2009 [hereinafter referred to as "the PPTC Regulations]."

Background and Regulatory Provisions

2. "Porting" is the process by which mobile telephone subscribers may transfer their mobile connection from one telecom service provider [hereinafter referred to as "TSP"] to another. TRAI introduced MNP in India by issuing the MNP Regulations, which were notified on 23.09.2009. These Regulations were made under Section 36(1