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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Mobile phone subscribers can keep their numbers even if they switch network effective Sept. 30

Mobile phone subscribers can keep their numbers even if they switch network effective Sept. 30

Published Jan 27, 2021 09:30 pm

Starting September 30, mobile phone users can switch networks or change their subscription without having to change their numbers.

(photo from Pixabay)

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) disclosed during a Senate hearing on Wednesday that the Mobile Portability Act or Republic Act No. 11202 will be fully implemented by telecommunication companies effective September 30, 2021.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said the rollout was set for the first quarter of 2021 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Smart Vice President for Legal and Regulatory Group Roy Ibay said that based on their revised timetable, their interoperability testing will be conducted in June, and the full commercial launch of the mobile portability will be on September.

Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Dito Telecommunity – the country's mobile phone network providers – had earlier entered into a joint venture and formed the consortium, Telecommunications Connectivity, Inc. to implement the Mobile Number Portability Law.

They chose US-based company Syniverse as their mobile number portability service provider.

Under the RA 11202, signed by President Duterte in February 2019, mobile services subscribers may keep their existing mobile numbers if they switch networks or the mode of subscription services from prepaid to postpaid, and vice versa.

Telcos are prohibited from locking-in mobile devices to their respective network, regardless whether the device is sold as a unit or under a service contract.

The subscribers also do not have to pay a fee should they decide to retain their mobile numbers. The law also removes interconnection fees charged to subscribers for calling or texting across different networks.

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