Azerbaijan Aiming for Mobile Number Portability Later This Year

­Azerbaijan's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has confirmed that it is working on plans for Mobile Number Portability to be offered later this year. Minister Ali Abbasov told a meeting at the Ministry that the plans have been submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

"However, there is one issue outstanding: mobile operators and stationary communication operators have to reach agreement. We will try to implement this service this year," Abbasov told the local News Agency.

He also confirmed that Azercell Telecom may be granted a 3G license this year. "Azercell is the first candidate to apply for a 3G licence," he added, although local media reported last year that Azerfon had already been granted a 3G license. The licence fee is AZN 11,000 (US$13,700).

The Mobile World database notes that there are three GSM operators, along with one CDMA operator in the country. At the end of Q3 '09, there were just over 8.1 million subscribers in the country - representing a population penetration level of 78%.

On the web: Mobile World - News.az

Posted to the site on 25th January 2010