The Mobile Number Portability (MNP) system will be operational shortly in the country, as the project is in final stages while a Mobile Number Portability Company (Guarantee) Limited has also been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan with its head office in Islamabad.
Hardware costing $2.3 million for central database equipment has been installed and software will be installed soon. This database company would provide for the main vehicle of MNP, according to a PTA official.
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is the ability to retain an existing mobile number along with cellular operator code while shifting connectivity from one operator to another operator. In general, it is a service with the ability to change service providers without changing a telephone number.
Pakistan will be the first country in the region to implement this system. The MNP project is in final stages as PTCL and cellular mobile operators are in process of upgrading their switches for its implementation.
"As in the past, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has made every effort to provide pro-consumer facilities in the country. It is again leading the way by co-ordinating this effort of MNP implementation with all concerned telecom operators," said the PTA official.
PTA had brought out a strategy and roadmap for implementation of MNP system. A supervisory board, to implement the facility, was established and all operators were members of the board along with PTA and PTCL representation, he said.
PTA estimates that MNP system will be implemented before the end of 2006. The system will improve the telecom facilities in the country.
With MNP system implemented, the consumers will be the main beneficiaries. If a consumer is not satisfied with the service of a particular cellular mobile company he can change his network any time he feels to do so, PTA official observed. With the consumer having this facility, there will be a healthy competition in the telecom industry as all competitors in the industry would not only improve their services and infrastructure but would also cut down their prices to attract more and more customers.