After prodding from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, representatives from telecommunication companies Globe, Smart and new player Dito committed to rollout Mobile Number Portability this year and in phases.
This means subscribers will be able to switch networks or change subscriptions without losing the mobile numbers they currently use.
“They should implement the Mobile Number Portability Act (MNPA), even by phases, as long as it will be done within the first six months this year,” Gatchalian said.
He said the telcos may opt to implement mobile porting for postpaid subscribers first within this year and after that, they can focus on the mobile number portability of pre-paid subscribers next.
Gatchalian, principal author of the MNPA, better known as the Lifetime Cellphone Number Act, has recently met with representatives from telcos and global technology service provider Syniverse and discussed how to expedite the implementation of mobile number portability services in the country.