Singapore to Upgrade its Number Portability Platform

Singapore's telecoms regulator, the IDA has confirmed that Full Mobile Number Portability will be launched on June 13th. The new Full Mobile Number Portability solution will replace the current solution where a mobile subscriber holds two numbers, so that calls to his old number are Call-Forwarded to a new one. Singapore mobile subscribers were one of the first in the world to enjoy mobile number portability through this Call-Forwarding solution when it was launched in 1997.

When implemented from 13 June, Full Mobile Number Portability will allow anyone who wishes to keep their current number when they switch mobile operator, to do so by the next working day.

IDA Deputy Chief Executive and Director-General (Telecoms) Leong Keng Thai said: “Full Mobile Number Portability is expected to bring about a sea-change in Singapore’s mobile market. Consumers will be empowered with greater flexibility to choose from the offerings from mobile operators. This in turn intensifies competition and pushes the operators to work harder to attract and retain their customers. As we can expect to see more competitive pricing or better value-for-money mobile service deals, even those who choose to remain with their current mobile operator should benefit. We can expect even more exciting times ahead for our mobile market with Full Mobile Number Portability, and consumers will be the biggest winners.”

There are about 130,000 mobile subscribers who have ported their numbers under the current Call-Forwarding solution. As the new Full Mobile Number Portability will kick-in from 13 June, this group of subscribers will be involved in a migration exercise, which will start from 22 April 2008.

As part of the migration exercise, from 22 April 2008, these subscribers will be contacted by their current mobile operators, who will advise them on the migration procedures.

Posted to the site on 16th April 2008