Number Portability to Launch in Malaysia Next Month
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is due to be launched in Malaysia' Kuala Lumpur from next month, announced the Energy, Water and Communications Minister, Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor. It is intended that the facility will then go nationwide from October. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) originally announced plans for MNP last March.
Number portability clearing house, Telcordia - working with local firms, Talian Gerak Alih, Unified Communications - is providing the platform for the operators, having won the supply contract last November.
DiGi Chief Executive Officer Johan Dennelind said last month that his company is looking forward to the launch of MNP, "Customers should expect even more compelling products and services from us in the coming months in light of mobile number portability and growing competition."
The country currently has three live mobile operators (two others are non-functioning) and according to figures from the Mobile World service, total subscriber base of around 24.3 million at the end of Q1 '08 - representing a population penetration level of just under 97%.
The minister also confirmed that the government is committed to expanding mobile coverage from the current 92% to 97% of the population by the end of 2010. The expansion project calls for the construction of some 1,250 extra base stations in rural areas. Some 600 towers should be operational by the end of next year.
Posted to the site on 12th August 2008
