It is all set to go for Mobile Number Portability (MNP) this week, Telecommunications Connectivity, Inc. (TCI), the joint venture of the country's three telcos announced.

Beginning Sept. 30, mobile customers can move from one telco service provider to another free of charge, change from postpaid to prepaid, or vice-versa, and keep their mobile phone numbers.

However, "Integrating the various technologies that carry traffic for millions of customers is no easy task, and quite realistically, we expect to experience some birth pains as we start offering the service,” TCI General Manager Melanie Manuel said.

Although customers can do internal and external porting across operators, there will be limitations with regards to prepaid to postpaid porting within DITO Telecommunity.

The newest telco player does not offer postpaid service yet at present.

Domestic and international inbound and outbound services for SMS will be available across all telcos.

Yet voice calls and roaming at the onset could be limited although these will be "remedied in the soonest possible time".

On the other hand, full data services will be available. Ported subscribers can start to enjoy the services that their chosen “new” provider offers.

Airtime loading and prepaid top-up will be available across physical stores and retailers.

But in the meantime, loading via third party apps and various online channels will be dependent on the capability of these third-party applications.

Futhermore, the availability of postpaid subscriptions to third-party applications via direct carrier billing will also depend on the capability of these applications.

“Together with DITO, Globe, and Smart, who have been working round-the-clock to ensure that we are ready to provide the MNP service by the end of this month," Manuel said.

"TCI will deliver its commitment,” she said. “As we progress, we will continue to upgrade and evolve the MNP services in the months ahead."