Number Portability for Channel Islands

The separate regulators in the UK Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey have announced plans to co-operate and enable mobile number portability for customers in the islands. Jersey mobile operators (Jersey Telecom, and the two prospective new entrants, Cable & Wireless and Airtel) are already aiming to ensure that Jersey consumers and businesses can benefit from MNP by 1 January 2007, following a Direction from the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) earlier this year.

The Office of Utility Regulation (OUR) in Guernsey has sought confirmation from Guernsey mobile operators that they are prepared to use the Jersey solution to offer MNP within Guernsey.

Bill Brown Executive Director of the JCRA said "The adoption of a common approach to the introduction of MNP in both Islands should significantly reduce costs for the mobile operators, and benefit users. The fact that the OUR is using Jersey's approach to MNP as a basis for a Guernsey solution highlights the merits of closer co-operation. We shall continue to explore with the OUR further ways in which cooperation between us can reduce costs".

"We now have a situation where three mobile operators may have licences to provide services in both Islands. To us it makes complete sense to try and take advantage of the fact that these companies deal with similar issues across both islands" said John Curran, Director General of the OUR."

Posted to the site on 11th August 2006