Mobile number portability
DITO, Globe, and Smart form joint venture to soon enable subs to switch telcos while keeping mobile numbers
DITO Telecommunity, Globe Telecom, and Smart Communications have put up a joint venture company to comply with the enforcement of a new law that will allow subscribers to switch between networks while keeping their mobile numbers.
In a press release, the three major telcos said the newly formed Telecommunications Connectivity, Inc. has “successfully concluded the initial tests” of the technical capabilities and interoperability last July 14.
In February 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11202 or the Mobile Number Portability Act, which mandated that telcos allow subscribers to switch between networks, or from prepaid to postpaid, without losing their mobile number.
As long as the subscriber does not have any outstanding balance or other liabilities, the telcos are bound to port the number within two days or face fines.
The National Telecommunications Commission has said that the law will take effect by September.
The telcos said in its press release that the outcome of their initial tests were “within expectations.” The next steps now will be “to streamline the external porting process, implement fraud and security safeguards, optimize systems and backend business operations in time for a smoother and faster porting experience for customers by September 30, 2021.”
The mobile portability law, which was passed along with the entry of third telco player DITO, is aimed to enhance competition within the market, by spurring telcos to further improve services to ensure customer loyalty.