Last June 22, marked an important milestone for the telecommunications industry and for the Filipino people as Telecommunications Connectivity Inc. (TCI) officially unveiled the Mobile Number Portability services.
Thru the TCI a joint venture company formed by DITO, Globe and Smart to enable number porting services in compliance with Republic Act No. 11202, also known as Mobile Number Portability (MNP) law.
The Mobile Number Portability Act, ensures that mobile phone users can keep their numbers even when they transfer to another service provider, or when they switch their subscription from postpaid to prepaid, or vice-versa. The process itself is free of charge. Customer can start porting in commercially starting on September 30, 2021.
The TCI acts as the implementing arm for all activities between mobile service providers on one hand and the mobile number portability service provider (or the clearinghouse) on the other.
The reason for putting up a separate joint venture is to have a separate entity is required to facilitate decision making and approvals in the various contracts that will be entered into during the course of the implementation of mobile number portability. It will be too unwieldy to secure approvals from the 3 operators of any decision or contract that will have to be entered into with third parties.
Managing TCI is Melanie A. Manuel Interim General Manager whose telco work experience includes Domestic Carrier Relations, International and Domestic Settlements, Settlement Systems, IS Business Analysis, and Human Resource Management.
Atty. Froilan Castelo Chairman, Telecommunications Connectivity Inc. General Counsel, Globe Group of Companies shares how the process and the success of the MNP was done. “Mobile Number Portability is a complex process not only do we need to adopt it into our system but we need to integrate it with the networks of our competitors. MNP involves close coordination with the other telcos to build the system and how the system will react to provide that good customer service. It took us 22 months to build MNP, upgrade the system, integrate with the MNP service provider, and do testing with the other telcos. We also studied how other countries implemented mobile number portability, and how we can adopt that in the Philippines. We also need to consider the pandemic situation and how we will adapt under such circumstances. We have involved the best people in our organizations in this project. A lot of brainstorming happened, testing and developing all possible scenarios that can happen in MNP and ?nally after 22 months we can say we are now ready to provide Mobile.”
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What are the benefits of MNP?
MNP helps promote consumer welfare by fostering the freedom to choose and to respond to quality, price and other relevant considerations without consumers having to change their mobile numbers whenever they change mobile service providers or subscription plans. Porting is FREE.
How to conduct porting services?
To port within networks, one needs to meet the following requirements:
- An active SIM and the requestor is the assignee of the mobile number to be ported
- No remaining balance from your previous bill (for postpaid)
- No existing court prohibitions
- No pending transfer of ownership
“We want to make sure that we can give the best solutions and services to the Filipino people. Gusto natin pagaanin ang buhay at pasimplehan ang proseso para sa bawat telco subscriber by giving them the power of choice. Through mobile number portability, we are empowering our customers to pursue their passions and purpose. Ang DITO, Globe at Smart ay katuwang ng ating gobyerno upang palakasin ang telco industry sa Pilipinas” said by Mario Tamayo President, Telecommunications Connectivity Inc. SVP and Head of Technology, PLDT and Smart
The operators invested a total of Php 120 Million, so far. It is expected, however, that they will spend more because under the Mobile Number Portability law, the service is free of charge for the customer.
Syniverse was chosen by the Philippine mobile operators through a technical and commercial evaluation system to be the mobile number portability service provider (MNPSP). The company will bring in the technical infrastructure to ful?ll its primary function as clearing house for the three telcos and ensuring smooth implementation of number porting services.
Atty. Adel Tamano Treasurer, Telecommunications Connectivity Inc. Chief Administrative Of?cer, DITO Telecommunity shares, “The entire telco industry and the Philippine government are pushing forward with the same goal of providing Filipinos with better telco services. Aside from encouraging healthier competition amongst the players, MNP also grants Filipinos the freedom to switch to their preferred mobile service provider seamlessly and conveniently.. Na walang alinlangan”
