Telephone number 'portability' approved

The Malta Communications Authority yesterday approved the introduction of number portability, which would allow consumers to retain their telephone number when they change their network operator, location or service.

The MCA established end March 2006 for number portability to be fully implemented for both fixed and mobile numbers.

Currently, without the possibility of number portability, subscribers are often reluctant to switch their network operator as this would mean that they would have to change their telephone number.

The MCA said that number portability was essential to maximise the benefits of a competitive electronic communications market. Changing one's telephone number can be a major inconvenience and could prevent the public from taking advantage of the options available in a developed competitive electronic communications market.

Following the receipt of a number of responses to the consultation paper on number portability issued in October 2003, broad consultations were carried out between the operators and the MCA with the objective of establishing an acceptable framework for the implementation of full number portability.

The MCA said it considered carefully the feedback received from the industry and its obligations under the new legislative framework as a member state of the European Union. This decision, it said, represented the results of all these deliberations.

The document, with the title Introducing Number Portability in Malta - Report on Consultation and Decision, can be viewed on the MCA's web site http://www. mca.org.mt and copies can also be obtained free of charge from the MCA.