Globe Telecom Inc., new player Dito Telecommunity and PLDT Inc. unit Smart Communications Inc. on Tuesday secured an approval from the Securities and Commission to create a new company that will implement number portability in the country.
“We received the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission on the incorporation of Telecommunications Connectivity Inc.,” Globe said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.
The creation of the new company will enable number porting services in line with Republic Act 11202, or the “Mobile Number Portability Act.”
Through the MNP Act, mobile phone users can keep their numbers even when they transfer to another service provider, or when they switch their subscription from postpaid to prepaid, or vice-versa.
Mobile number portability refers to the ability of a mobile postpaid or prepaid subscriber, who has no existing financial obligation to the current service provider, to retain his mobile number despite moving from one mobile service provider to another, or to change the type subscription from postpaid to prepaid or vice versa.
The three mobile operators tapped US-based Syniverse to be the mobile number portability service provider after a rigorous technical and commercial evaluation process.
The company will bring in the technical infrastructure to fulfill its primary function as clearinghouse for the telcos and ensure smooth implementation of number porting services.
Syniverse is expected to bring in the technical infrastructure to fulfill its primary function as clearinghouse for the three mobile operators to ensure the smooth implementation of number porting services.
Under the implementing rules and regulations of the MNP Act, mobile operators will equally share the capital expenditure on the software, hardware and other facilities required by the MNPSP. However, the sharing of operating and maintenance costs will be agreed upon by the mobile operators and the MNPSP.